Skip to main content

Full text of "The Canadian entomologist"

See other formats













a hey 


RETURN TO 


LIBRARY OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY 


WOODS HOLE, MASS. 


LOANED BY AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 











THE CANADIAN 


ENTOMOLOGIST. 





6E(§ VOLUME VI. Ys 





Edited by GA. Saunders, 


LONDON, ONT. 


ASSISTED BY 


REV: C. |. S. BETHUNE, M.A., Port Hope, Ont.; J. M. DENTON, London, Ont. ; 
and £. B. REED, Barrister-at-Law, London, Ont. 





LONDON : 


PRINTED BY THE FREE PRESS STEAM PRINTING COMPANY, RICHMOND ST. 





1874 





LIST OF CONTRISUTERS TO ™ 


MNDREWS, W. Vl. .....: 
BETHUNE, REV. C.J. S.... 
BEHRENS, JAMES.... ....:.-% 
BUNKER. ROBERT.......@00m 
PAMEMIELD, FY Bock. :oco 
CHAMBERS, V. T..... 

MORIPER. WM.......: 0:05 
MeOTCH, GR... y. 

SeynGr. GM...) 

POWwARDS W.H.. ......98..ee.. 
PEMOesS GAMBLE...27..25..! 
emery. THOS. G......08) 
Meer AUG Ro... 
Pen, DR H......'.. 
Reeve WE... .....,...J0ae 
LECONTE, DR. JOHN L.... 
LYMAN, H.BH..... 
MORRIS, DR. BEVERLY R........ 
MORE ISON, H. K...:. 13.0 


© «(© 4.0 eke sas & 


Me RPE EIT, MARY Enea. dee... es. 


NORMAN GEORGE. .: Jo5:05. ee. «-. 
PEsPOY, PROF. S, Ho? em... 
Bee RSON C. W...... cee ee. 
“LG ee ek. 


ily ls ee t= | 


Ree Ns on ee ee, 


meek G Kev. ..... see. 
SAUNDERS, WM., The Editor.......... 
Pour Ss Ho... eee wee 
Peron, RoE... Sse Be... 
PIMERS. DRAS.V. 2) 2oge. e..... 
FRANCIS! 700m Hee... 


WALKER, 


Mh tse eg g 14 46 


fal lem, fel iat et 


rHIS VOLUME. 


.. NEW YoRK. 
.. PorT Hope, ONT. 
...9SAN FRANCISCO, CAL 
... ROCHESTER, WS 
. MONTREAL, P. ©: 
.. COVINGTON, Ky: 
.. MONTREAL, P. Q. 
. .. CAMBRIDGE, MASs. 
.. GLENCOE, NEBRASKA. 
. .COALBURGH, W.VA; 
. -LONDON, ONT. 
.. GERMANTOWN, PA. 
. Jt EA LOD eae 
.. CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 
.. ENGLAND. 
... PHILADELPHIA, PA. 


MonrtTREAL, P. Q. 


.. NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND. 
. .. CAMBRIDGE, MASss: 
.KiRKWoop, Mo. 

..ST. CATHARINES, ONT. 

.. AMHERST, MASs. 
. « MONTREAL Re 
.. GRIMSBY, ONT. 
. LONDON, ONT. 


ST: LOUIS, aero: 
KINGSTON, ONT. 


. . LONDON, ONT. 


CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 
San FRANCISCO, CAL. 


. .NEW ORLEANS, JA. 
. .LONDON, ENGLAND. 





Che Canadan Entomolonist. 














VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., JANUARY, 1874. No. I 














EL DETOS I AT 


In accordance with a time honoured custom, we heartily tender to 
all our readers in this, the opening number of a new volume, the 
compliments of the season—a happy and a prosperous new year. It is 
meet at these annually recurring points in the history of cur journal that 
we should briefly review the past, believing as we do that a recalling to 
mind the advances we have made and the encouraging success which has 
attended our efforts thus far will stimulate us to renewed exertion and 
make us hopeful and trustful for the future. Five years ago the CANADIAN 
ENTOMOLOGIST? made its first appearance as a small eight paged magazine. 
Our members were scarcely sanguine enough to hope for a regular monthly 
issue even of this size, so in the opening number its appearance was 
promised occasionally, as material should accumulate; but our success 
has been beyond our expectations, the issue of our journal has been 
tolerably regular up to the present time; we have gradually increased its 
size from eight to twenty pages ; have risen from common white paper to 
finely finished toned paper, have embellished our pages with many 
beautiful wood-cuts, and have presented to our readers from time to time 
Entomological matter in such variety as we trust will have met the views 
and wishes of all those who have favored us with their patronage. The 
work which our late esteemed Editor has so successfully carried on we 
shall, with his assistance and that of our other coadjutors, endeavour to 
continue. 


To those who have aided us by their valuable contributions to our 
pages we are especially grateful, and we sincerely hope for a continuance 
of these esteemed favors. Pressed as we are with a burden of other 
work, we trust our friends will continue to forward their papers without 
waiting for personal solicitation. We propose to continue the monthly 
articles on our common insects, and also to furnish such gleanings in our 


py} THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





summary as we think will interest the general reader, while at the same 
time we shall endeavour to maintain for our journal that scientific 
standing which gives it value in the eyes of so many of our co-laborers. 
in the Entomological field. 

We feel persuaded that our readers will not overlook the fact that this. 
festive season is the time also for renewing their subscriptions ; money is 
a motive power in our operations which we cannot overlook. ‘This gentle: 
hint will no doubt be heartily responded to, and we trust that while our 
members bear in mind their own liabilities in this matter, they will also: 
try to induce as many of their friends as possible to join our ranks, so: 
that the circulation of the ENromoLocist may be greatly increased. 


ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 
wm. THE TIGER SWALLOW TAIL—Fapilio turnus, Linn. 





BYSebHE EDITOR. 


Ajl our readers must have seen the large tiger swallow tail butterfly 
floating about in the warm days of July and August, enjoying the 


Me. A: 





sunshine and sipping the honey from flowers. It is among our largest 
and handsomest butterflies. In figure 1 we have an excellent represen- 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 3 


tation of it. When its wings are expanded this insect will measure about 
four inches across. The ground color of its wings is a pale lemon 
yellow, which is banded and bordered with black ; on the fore wings are 
four black bars, the inner one extending entirely across the wing, the 
outer ones shortening more and more as they approach the apex. The 
front margin is edged with black, and the outer margin has a wide border 
of the same in which is set a row of eight or nine pale yellow spots, the 
lower ones less distinct. 


The hind wings are crossed by a streak of black which is almost a 
continuation of the inner band on the fore wings ;_ there is a short black 
streak a little beyond at the end of the discal cell, and a wide black 
border widening as it approaches the inner angle of the wing. Enclosed 
within this border and towards its outer edge are six lunular spots, the 
upper and lower ones reddish, the others yellow; above and about these 
spots and especially towards the inner angle of the wing, the black 
bordering is thickly powdered with blue scales. The outer margin of the 
hind wings is scalloped and partly edged with yellow; the inner margin 
is bordered with dusky for about two-thirds of its length, followed by a 
small yellow patch, which in turn is succeeded by a larger black spot 
centered with a crescent of blue atoms and bounded below by an irregular 
reddish spot margined within with yellow. The hind wings terminate in 
two long black tails, edged on the inside with yellow. The body is black 
above, margined with pale yellowish ; below yellowish streaked with 
black. ° 

The under surface of the wings somewhat resembles the upper, but is. 
paler. 

This species passes the winter in the chrysalis state, and appears first 
on the wing from the middle to the latter end of May, but becomes much 
more plentiful during July. Whether these July insects are a second 
brood, or whether the bulk of the chrysalids which have wintered do not 
mature until about this time we are unable to determine ; individuals. 
which we have wintered over have escaped from chrysalis as late as the 
3rd of June. 


The eggs of ¢urnus are deposited singly on the leaves of the different 
plants or trees on which the larva feeds. They are between one-twentieth 
and one-twenty-fifth of an inch in diameter, sub-globular, flattened at the 
place of attachment ; colour dark green, surface smooth, without 
reticulations, but showing a few small irregularly distributed spots under 


4 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





a magnifying power of forty-five diameters. In about ten or twelve days 
they begin to change colour, becoming darker, and very dark just before 
the young larve are hatched. 


When fresh from the egg the larva is about one-tenth of an inch 
long, with a large black head and with a black body roughened with 
small brownish black tubercles. The second segment is elevated or 
thickened and of a dull glossy flesh colour, with a prominent fleshy 
tubercle on each side and a patch of white on the seventh and eighth 
segments, wide anteriorly, pointed behind ;~ there is also a dull flesh 
coloured streak along the back on fourth and eleventh segments. The 
twelfth segment has a pair of fleshy tubercles rather prominent, but not 
so large as those on the second; both those on the second and twelfth 
have several short whitish hairs arising from them. The under surface is 
brownish black, with the feet and prolegs of the same colour. 


The full grown larva, see figure 2, taken July 14th, measured one and 
a half inches in length. Its head is rather large and of a reddish brown 


Fig. 2, 


colour, sprinkled with very 
short white hairs. 


The body above,green, of a 
-~ slightly darker shade on the 
é22- anterior segments, paler on 
the sides of the body, over which there is a whitish bloom produced by a 
multitude of very minute white dots, with small short hairs of the same 
colour issuing trom them; the anterior segments of the body are 
wrinkled. On the front edge of the second segment is a raised yellow 
fold slightly overhanging the head, and on each side of the fourth 
segment is an eye-like spot, nearly oval in shape, yellow, encircled with a 
ring of black, centered with a small elongated blue dot, which is also set 
in black and has above it on each side a black line nearly crossing the 
yellow spot. On the hinder portion of the fifth segment is a raised 
yellow fold, bordered behind with rich velvety black, the latter visible 
only when the larva is in motion; on the terminal segment is a similar 
fold flattened above, with a slight protuberance on each side. On the 
fifth segment, in front of the yellow fold, are two blue dots, one on each 
side of the dorsal line ; there are also faint traces on the hinder segments 
of a continuation of these dots in longitudinal rows. 
The under surface is of a paler green than the upper, with a whitish 
bloom ; prolegs of the same colour, feet tipped with brown. 





THE CANADIAN ENTMOLOGIST. 5 


ww 








As the larva approaches maturity and is about to change to a 
chrysalis, the colour of the body gradually grows darker until it becomes 
dark reddish brown, the sides’nearly black. The minute whitish granu- 
lations and the blue dots become much more distinctly visible, giving the 
larva a very different appearance. It then selects some suitable spot in 
which to pass the chrysalis state, where it spins a web of silk in which its 
hind feet are entangled, and having prepared and stretched across a silken 
band to sustain its body in the middle, it casts its larva skin and remains 
a dull brownish chrysalis until the following spring. 

This insect is widely distributed, being found throughout the greater 
portion of the United States and Canada. ‘The larva feeds on a number 
of different trees, but chiefly affects with us the apple, cherry, thorn and 
basswood. 


THE USE OF APHIS-EXCRETION AND BENEFIT DERIVED 
THEREFROM. 


BY THCMAS G. GENTRY, GERMANTOWN, PA. 


It is well known to the popular as well as scientific world that the 
Aphides secrete or rather excrete a peculiarly viscid and honey-like fluid 
which forms one of the chief delicacies of Ants. That it was originally 
designed to form an article of food for the latter is a supposition that 
cannot be entertained for a single moment ; but that it is in some way 
connected with the preservation of the soft and tender beings by which 
it is manufactured, there can be no reasonable doubt. Various opinions 
have been hazarded, and not a few theories devised to account for its 
probable origin and use and the material benefit which it secures to the 
authors thereof, but these have been of such an unsatisfactory character 
as not to merit the approval of the learned. 

While some writers have surmised its application to be connected in 
some way with the wants of the newly-born 4f/is, still the lack of 
evidence confirmatory of any such surmise has caused it to fall into 
neglect and disuse. 

That this fluid has both a primary and a secondary purpose to subserve - 
in the economy of the plant louse is a fact the truth of which stands off 
as gross as black from white. Recently, while engaged in the study of the 


6 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





Aphis which particularly infests the blossoms of Cucurbita ovifera, 1 had 
the happy satisfaction of being a witness of a phenomenon which 
promised to solve the knotty problem. After a few moments of calm and 
deliberate reflection upon what I observed, the entire theory, the 
details of which I am about to delineate, became almost intuitively 
outlined upon my mind. 


Feeding upon the flowers of this plant were hundreds of lice, the 
groupings of which not even a careless and hasty observer could fail to 
detect. ‘There, like the patriarchal tribes we read about, were observable 
group after group, each composed ef a head and a family of children of 
diverse ages and sizes. In the arrangement the young and newly-born, as 
if requiring the first care and earliest attention of the mother, were closely 
in her rear, the proximity to her presence in the case of the residue being 
apparently determined by theirage. 


While intently scrutinizing the actions of the various groups, one little 
fellow was observed to caress its parent by means of its antenne, as if 
soliciting the bestowal of a favor. After the lapse of some few seconds 
the mother, acting in obedience to the child’s wishes as thus expressed, 
slowly elevated the posterior part of her abdomen and ejected a honey 
drop upon the head of the latter, apparently to its infinite delight and 
satisfaction. It is my honest opinion, evidenced by repeated observations, 
that it is only during the first two days of the life of the offspring that 
this process of feeding is necessary, the digestive organs at this period 
being too feeble and delicate to partake of the strong juice of the flower 
without the entailment of injury. But after undergoing remarkable 
changes in the alimentary laboratory it becomes deprived of its injurious 
properties and rendered fit for the sustenance of life. 


In conjunction with the previous discovery I remarked that the older 
and stronger seldom, if ever, deviated from the path over which their 
maternal head had passed, but seemed to find their chief good attained 
by following closely therein. It seems just to conclude that this would 
not be if they were amply qualified to look after their own temporal 
welfare ; but on the ground that parental provision and attention are still 
indispensable, the reason is obvious. f 


Plant lice being vigorous feeders, the manufacture and excretion of 
this fluid would necessarily be very great and profuse, and as nature does 
not work in yain, it might be argued that it is a sort of compensation 
which the insect lavishes upon the plant for the losses which it 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 7 








momentarily sustains. But to this opinion I cannot assent, as experience 
‘teaches me that the plant does not receive the least benefit therefrom. 
Even if it possessed any healing virtues, these could not manifest any 
‘marked effects, owing to the very rapid multiplication of the lice, which 
-are constantly probing the wounds by means of their puctorial apparatus 
-and thus serving to heighten instead of lightening the evil. Viewing the 
‘subject in this light, nature would seem to be defeating her own ends. 


It is true that these highly mischievous creatures are slightly held in 
-check by a few species of the Ichneumonide, Syrphidze and Coccinel- 
lide, but their rate of increase is so enormously out of proportion to the 
number of their enemies that very little good results to plants. 


From the preceding remarks it is evident to the mind of every candid 
‘reasoner that plants receive no material advantage from this excretion. It 
now remains to indicate its use. ‘That it is of great service to the newly 
born Af/is, totally unfitted as it is both by nature and by structure to 
imbibe the strong, yet sometimes acrid and bitter fluids of plants, there 
-can be no doubt. But as the supply is clearly above the requirements of 
such, why the excess? Most assuredly to serve as padulum for their 
-stronger companions. How? By uniting with the plant’s forced 
excretion, thus diluting and rendering it a suitable material for imbibition 
.and digestion. ‘That its primary use is to serve as food for the lice during 
their early existence I think from the argument adduced must be obvious 
to all. 


That a secondary purpose also is subserved thereby, to wit, the 
preservation of the species, there are just grounds for belief. It is well 
known to naturalists that ants do not merely possess a fondness for 
“sugar, gums and saccharine solutions, but that they also manifest a 
‘decided penchant for the rich juices and tender tissues of animals; the 
liquids aud solids of humbler forms of insect life being sought after and 
-Gevoured with avidity, save when the animals possess some peculiar 
properties that recommend them to the mercy of their enemies. 


There is no doubt that the soft and juicy Aphis, which is esteemed 
such a rich morsel of food by the Coccinella, was primitively as delicious 
to the Formica, and that it shared equally with other feeble creatures of 
its class the murderous assaults of the latter. This condition of things 
-doubtless continued for ages, until there appeared on the scene an ant 
-possessed of more Sagacity than any of its fellows. 


8 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





This ant having discovered the hidden virtues of the Apis excretion: 
there would dawn a new era in the history of the two species. The news. 
of this discovery would doubtless become diffused not only through the 
colony of which this ant formed a part, but through the entire species and 
kindred species, for the Aormicid@, as is well known, exhibit in a remark-. 
able manner the power of communicating their thoughts, wishes, &c., to 
each other. 


As ants are endowed with a high degree of intelligence, considering 
the place which they occupy in the scale of created existence, they would 
not be slow to perceive that their chief good would be best attained by 
taking under protection the little creatures which are the authors of this 
luxury. From this time the ants would gradually abandon their: 
sanguinary propensities, and little by little manifest their solicitude and. 
regard for the latter by gentle strokes and caresses. The lice in turn: 
perceiving the latter’s disposition to friendliness, would cease by degrees: 
to regard them as enemies, and would learn to cater to their physical. 
wants. Thus would be developed these amicable relations which are- 
known to exist between them, and which so admirably tend to their 
mutual good. 


MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 





BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY. 
Continued from Page 232, vol, v. 


BUTALIS. 
B. fuscicomella, Clem. 


B. flavifrontella, Clem. 


Both of these species occur abundantly in this locality; but the- 
latter (my specimens can be nothing else) has the apical vein furcate- 
before the apex, whilst Dr. Clemens says that it is simple. Mr. Stainton- 
says it may be B. dasilaris, Zeller. 


B. matutela? Clem. 


I am not altogether certain that my specimens belong to this species: 
which I know only by Dr. Clemen’s description. The neuration of the- 
wings in my specimens is the same with that of Dr. Clemen’s species as; 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Sp 








given by him ; but there are some structural points in which it differs from 
Butalis, and Dr. Clemens’ specific description is applicable to ecnly a 
small proportion of individuals out of the many that I have examined. 
My specimens have been bred from laryae found mining the leaves of the 
great hog weed (Ambrosia trifda) and various species of Aster (A. 
ericowes and A. sagittifolius). It spins a small web on the under side of 
the leaf from which it passes into the leaf, eating out the parenchyma in 
small patches. It makes several mines before passing into the pupa 
state. The mine is at first convoluted, narrow and filled with frass, but 
soon becomes a clear transparent blotch somewhat lke the mine of 
Bedellia somnulentella in leaves of the morning glory (/pomea). It pupates 
in a dense web which it spins around itself,and which is but slightly 
attached to the surface of the leaf. 


In the imago state the tongue is scaled at the base only, the wings are 
carried slightly deflexed in repose instead of being folded around the 
body as in the true species of Bufalis. The primaries have only three 
instead of four veins beneath the apical one, and the head is rather less. 
obtuse and is scarcely at all retracted. I had at first inclined to erect for 
it a new genus, and specimens in my cabinet were labelled Sinoe 
ambrosiaeella, and have been distributed to some correspondents under 
that name. The neuration of the wings is very similar to that of the 
genus 4ydia, but the palpi are very different. 


The imago is shining bronzy dark brown, with a purplish tinge. 
Usually there is a whitish yellow spot on the fold of variable size, some- 
times spreading to the dorsal margin, sometimes scarcely discernible, and 
sometimes absent: there is alwaysa distinct streak of the same hue at 
the beginning of the dorsal cilia, and a white patch on the abdomen 
beneath near the apex. AZ ex. % inch. 


The larva is at first white with green contents ; then a small black 
spot appears on each side of the first segment, and afterwards a series or 
line of similar spots extends along the entire length of the larva and 
ultimately they become purple. In the later larval stages a purple line 
appears on each side of the median one. There isa small blackish spot 
behind each eye. In the adult larva the 9th and roth segments become 
purple on top and the purplish longitudinal lines above mentioned are 
connected on the posterior margin of each segment by a transverse band 
of the same hue. It has sixteen feet, the thoracic ones being piceous. It 
may be found in all of its stages from June until the fall of the leaves. 


10 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








ARGYRESTHIA. 
A. oreasella. Clem. 


Mr. Stainton states in his edition of the Clemens papers that this is 
the European A. andereggiella. It is the only species of the genus hereto- 
fore described from this country. I have never met with it in this locality 
but have received from Mr. Wm. Saunders several specimens with the 
information that they were all taken whilst resting on the leaves of a 
thorn bush (Crategus ————?). In my specimens there is nothing 
that can be called an ‘ eye cap’ only a few long scales pendant over the 
eyes from the elongate basal point of the antennze, and the body, wings 
and antenne more slender than in the species described below as A, 
undulatella. ‘The neuration of the wings in orease//a is exactly that given 
by Mr. Stainton (Jus. Brit. Lep. Tin., v. 3) for A. nitidella. 


A. undulatella. N. sp. 


Not having recognized this as a true Aveyresthia formerly, it was 
labelled in my cabinet Chalciope undulatella, and has been distributed to 
some correspondents under that name, and also under the names Polyxo 
undulatella and Albunea undulatella. 


It is more robust than ovease//a, the primaries are wider, the tuft on the 
vertex is larger, the basal joint of the antennez is enlarged and has a 
distinct eye cap; the antenne are much more robust and each joint is 
clothed with rather spreading scales so that it is enlarged towards its apex, 
the succeeding joint being inserted in the centre of its apex. 


The neuration of the primaries is like that of orcased/a, but in the 
secondaries the discal vein is absent from the subcostal to the first branch 
of the discal, so that the cell is partly unclosed. 


I have named the species wndulatella from its habit of ‘ see-sawing’ on 
its middle legs before it comes to rest in the attitude of the other species 
of the genus, resting on its head with the apex of the body and wings 
projecting at an obtuse angle to the object on which it rests. It is very 
sluggish and not easily disturbed. It is found in considerable numbers 
in May resting on the trunks of Elm trees. ‘The larva is unknown. 


A. undulatella. N. sp. 


Palpi brownish, at base white ; face white around the mouth, brownish 
above. Tuft and eye caps snowy white. Antennae checkered with 
alternate black and white spots. ‘Thorax and dorsal half of the primaries 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, ll 





snowy white; costal and apical portions brownish or dark brown, some- 
‘times dusted with white and sometimes (usually) with streaks of the white 
extending into the brown portions, sometimes so as to divide it into two 
or three brownish costal streaks. There is great variety in the shade and 
proportions of the whitish and brownish portions of the wing, but snow 
white is the characteristic color of the basal and dorsal parts and brown- 
ish of the costal and apical parts, with the line between them more or 
less emarginate. A/ ex. %3 inch. Kentucky. 


A. apici-maculella. LN. sp. 

In this species the eye cap is as distinct as in wndilate//a, but the stalk 
is simple and slender as in orease/da. The neuration of the primaries is 
that given by Mr. Stainton for A. arceuthina (loc. :it.) Inthe second- 
aries it is the inferior portion of the discal vein that is absent instead of 
the superior, as in wvdulatella ; that is the portion next to the median 
vein. 


Shining silvery white, each joint of the antennae (except the basal 
one) is dotted above with dark brown. Primaries with a blackish or 
dark prown shining almost triangular spot at the apex, with three pale 
and indistinct brownish costal streaks before it ; the first of these streaks 
is the shortest and most indistinct, and is placed at the beginning of the 
ciliae. The second is a little more distinct and sometimes extends 
entirely across the wing, and the third one always does so after dividing 
into two branches just before the apical spot. ‘These streaks are usually 
more or less interrupted and sometimes spread over the apex so that it 
might perhaps be more correctly described as dusted than streaked. 
There is a bright though pale golden basal streak just within the costal 
margin. A/. sx. 34 inch. Kentucky, in oak woods, in June and July. 


THE FAMILIES OF DIPTERA. 
BY FRANCIS WALKER, LONDON, ENGLAND. 


The two-winged flies are more important in nature than any other 
order of insects because of their number and diffusion, and the families 
may be briefly traced in succession previous to a more extended notice 
of each of them, in case the subject should become more interesting. 


Be THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


DoS ee es = : —— ae —— —__—$—=_ $$ SCE ee 








Family 1, PULICID®. 
+ 2, MYCETOPHILID-. 


In the following arrangement the first manifestation of Dipterous: 
existence is associated with the inmost recesses of man’s habitation, and 
a few beasts and birds aiso partake of its presence in their dwellings. In 
this form it has some perfections in which it exceeds all the rest of the 
race, being unequalled in strength and in activity and in endurance of 
pressure. ‘The dismissal of this wingless fly will be readily accepted, and’ 
there is a wide gap between it and the next form of Dipterous life 
wherein it is transferred to the fungoid-race, and here its work is to 
appropriate and elaborate the substance of the fungus and to raise it to 
its own level, and this will be said to be just contrary to the first scene in 
which it reduces the circulation of the vertebrata to its own purposes. In 
the second scene the fly has in some cases much resemblance in the body 
and in the legs to the first family, but the strength and the activity are 
comparatively passed away, and the structure of the mouth is much 
changed and much less effective ; however, it has 4 compensation in the 
possession of wings. Even in the small extent of England there is yet 
much to learn about the fungus-flies, but there is a much wider field for 
observation in Canada and in the more northern regions of America 
where the gradual diminution and cessation of the race may be traced. 
Winnerty has contributed much more than any one else to the history of 
this family, and his synopsis of the sub-families is here translated : 


A—Middle transverse vein elongated. 

a— Brachial vein wantmgiee .... 20a. hee t Diadocidinz 
b—Brachial vein present. 

*—_Antenne not very long. 


7 Bracival vein long. cece. . «01+ fine ccaelate olaus ....2 Mycetobine 
+ T—Brachial vein Shortie - « .. snecsen Xe oo tepieek 3 Ceroplatinz 
* *__ Antenne very long. 

+—Antenne setiform.......... en ..4 Bolitophiline: 
+ t—Antenne filiform...... Sao Beene ee eee »e..5 Macrocerinze 
B—Middle transverse vein not eloneateal 

a—Brachial vein present.......... 5 oli lala ie eee ....-6 Sciophilinz 


b—Brachial vein wanting.............. weeeeeee 7 Mycetophilinz 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. LS 





NOTES ON NOCTUID. 
BY AUG. R. GROTE, 
Curator of Articulata, Buffalo Soc. of Natural Sciences. 
Asrotis badinodis, Grote. 


ft. Antenne pectinate. All the tibiz armed or spinose. Abdomen 
a little flattened. Body slender; wings ample and wide. Nearest to 
Agrotis collaris, but with wider wings, and larger and differently colored. 
Smooth, pale brown. ‘Transverse lines even, with coincident pale 
shades. Basal halfline evident ; on the sub-basal space a pale dot 
followed by darker scales situate on median nervure. ‘Transverse anterior 
line straight, touching the broader superior portion of the large orbicular 
-on subcostal nervure, and leaving on the disc an intensely blackish brown 
space to obtain between the narrower lower portion of the orbicular and 
the line. Reniform, like the orbicular, concolorous, with narrow pale 
edging, hardly as large as the orbicular and broader below than above. 
Space between the spots deep, faintly reddish brown, deepening to median 
nervure. The diffuse median shade apparent below median nervure. 
‘Claviform large, concolorous, indistinctly limited. ‘Transverse posterior 
line even, regularly arcuate, much as in co//aris. Subterminal space dark 
reddish brown; subterminal line faint, narrow, irregular, pale ; terminal 
space paler, less reddish brown than the subterminal. ‘Terminal line 
broken into minnte dots ; fringes dark. 


Hind wings concolorous, dark silky fuscous, with pale fringes. Beneath 

with a reddish brown tinge ; a common diffuse fuscous line, and a dark 
discal spot on the hind wings which are palest and notably irrorate. Collar 
-dark, thorax pale brown ; abdomen like hind wings. Axfanse, 35 m. m. 
Flabitat, Maryland (coll. Lintner, No. 2506.) 


The antennal pectinations are longer than in ¢angulum, the color 
-different, the orbicular differently shaped. 


Leurots occulta. 


I have determined this species in the collection of Mr. Lintner, from 
New York, and in that of the Laval University, Quebec. It is a robust 
form, resembling Mamestra nimbosa in appearance, but structurally 
“distinguished by the naked eyes, spinose fore tibize and excavated genital 


14 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





ee = —— ne 





pieces. It should be considered as the type of Hubner’s genus Zurois,a 
name which has priority over A//ecta, and is cast for the same species, 
most of which, as Lederer has shown, are not properly separable from 
Mamestra. Polyphaenis seems to me equally valid with £urozs,; Iam not 
therefore agreed with v. Heineman’s fusion of the species of the two. 
genera under the name of Afleta. ‘The late Mr. Walsh has already 
referred to this species as found in this country. ‘The list of species. 
common to both continents, given in the Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., vol. 3, p. 
214, contains, however, several errors of different kinds, and is therefore: 
unreliable. 


Luperina rentformis, Grote. 


t 2. Eyes naked, without lashes. Tibiz all unarmed. Manxillae 
weaker than in adena. Abdomen conical, apparently without tufts in 
the 2, with longer dorsal depressed scales in the %, in either sex not 
with the thick squamation of Hadena. A little larger than Hyd. sera, 
which it resembles, but is more blackish, and the reniform is contrastedly 
annulate with white scales which usually extend along veins 3 and 4 at 
base, as in Haworthi. Beneath the thoracic squamation is somewhat 
woolly. Blackish brown; suhterminal space usually contrasting by its 
pale ochreous color. Median space wide. Orbicular an oblique finely 
and faintly pale ringed annulet, concolorous with the wing. Claviform 
indistinct, black. | Reniform very narrow, its base visible between veins 3. 
and 4, neatly ringed with pure white, preceded by a pale vertical streak 
which appears to cover the closure of the cell, but which is probably part 
of the true outer annulus of the spot. Median shade black, irregular, 
faint. T. p. line accentuated on the nervules, even, pale between double 
lines, not retreated on cell 2, followed by black nervular dots on the 
subterminal space. Subterminal line preceded by a dark brown shade 
which shows some more determinate shade marks, produced opposite the 
median nervure. Terminal space black, narrow. Interspaceal terminal 
black dots. ‘The narrow brown fringes cut with pale at extremity of the 
veins. Hind wings pale fuscous with soiled veins, beneath with distinct 
dot and faint transverse line. Varies by the darkening of the subterminal 
space, and obsolescence of the pale scales on the median nervules. 
Antennnez simple in both sexes. xfanse36m.m. Habitat Canada ;, 
New York (Mead, No. 120; Lintner, No. 3588 and No. 3741 var.) 
Collection of Buffalo Society N. Sciences. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1 


i 








Fadena fractilinea, Grote. 


2. Eyes naked, with lashes. Thorax with anterior and posterior 
crests ; the dorsal abdominal tufts are minute. Legs unarmed. Size 
moderate ; squamation smooth. Dull blackish and very pale dull carneous 
brown. ‘The pale color obtains along the internal margin of the fore 
wings and largely subterminally, extending to the apices without the 
undulate ferruginous subterminal line. The blackish color obtains at 
base and superiorly along costal region, and surmounting the pale 
subterminal space and over the constricted terminal space. The contrast 
between the two tints is variably strong, the blackish color becomes in 
some specimens dull brownish and the pale tint obscure and dusky. The 
median space is blackish above submedian fold, narrowed inferiorly ; the 
ordinary spots small, orbicular concolorous with a fine pale annulation, 
reniform with the centre of the paler shade of the wing, with a dark 
internal streak. Transverse posterior line incompletely geminate,. 
followed by a series of minute black and pale nervular dots. The twice 
prominently undulated subterminal is preceded by a more or less obvious 
ferruginous shade. Fringes black, narrowly cut with pale at the 
extremity of the veins. Hind wings concolorous brownish grey, rather 
dark, without lines; fringes pale with a narrow dark internal line. Beneath 
paler, dusted with dark scales, with a purplish or carneous tinge and a 
tolerably distinct exterior common line, more denticulately waved on 
secondaries. Patagia mixed with blackish scales; disc and tufts paler, 
touched with ferruginous ; abdomen like hind wings. Zxfanse, 28 to 30 
m.m. Habitat, Canada (Pettit, No. 1594); Albany (Lintner, Nos. 3568 
and 1998). Much smaller and distantly recalling rvea in the disposition 
of the colors. It has apparently also a resemblance to the European 
Agrotis putris, but is generically distinct, and differs by the dark opaque 
secondaries. 


Hadena cariosa. 


Xylophasta cariosa, Guenee, p. 144. 

The median lines are more distinct than in its immediate allies. The 
median space is narrowed inferiorly, the large claviform extends to the 
transverse posterior line. 


Cerastis alternata. 


Noctua alternata, Grote, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., Vol. III. 
Eastern States ; New York; Pennsylvania. 


16 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


—_—— 





Cerastis cupida. 
Noctua cupida, Grote, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., Vol. III. 


Eastern States ; New York; Pennsylvania. 
Telesilla cinereola. 


This species is the //acedes cincrevla of Guenee, but the generic name 
had been previously used, and Herrich-Schaffer in consequence proposed 
the present designation for the European amethystina, and which should 
be retained for our species. Lederer’s term Zucarta is later and has 
been withdrawn, in favor of Zélesz//a, by its author. Hubner enumerates 
the European species under Trigonophora, the type of which is quite 
distinct structurally from Ze/eseVla amethystina. 


Plusia gamma, (Linn). 
Habitat, California (Hy. Edwards, No. 147). 


I cannot distinguish the American specimens specifically. ‘This 
species has been credited to Canada by Kirby (p. 307), and also to 
Hudson’s Bay by Mr. Walker, in the British Museum Lists. 


Adipsophanes miscellus, Grote. 
Flabitat, California (Hy. Edwards, No. 187). 


ENTOMOLOGICAL READINGS, 
Suggestive and Reftective. 
BY W. V. ANDREWS, NEW YORK. 


“There are no satisfactory distinctions between some of the moths 
which enable any one to say that they are of such and such species, and 
very frequently they are separated into different kinds because they happen 
to feed on various plants, and because the moths are not all colored in 
the same manner. Of course the Entomologists that believe in the real 
nature of species have taken a vast deal of trouble with the Noctuina, but 
those who do not think a species to be anything more than an abstract 
idea, and that it really consists of the sum of the variations of a closely 
allied series of forms, do not see the use of this Natural History hair 
splitting.” —Duncan’s Transf. of Insects, p. 125. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. kZ 








“ Many naturalists have observed that the species of So/enodia, one of 
the Tineidz, have a most exceptional power of reproduction. The 
maiden females of the genus lay eggs which can be hatched so as to 
produce larvz, and a naturalist may breed a species for years without 
seeing a male So/enobia. This extraordinary fact is not without parallel 
amongst the Lepidoptera * - * and it is common among the 
bees and the aphides.”—Duncan’s Transf. of Insects, p. 146. 


Nore.—To many persons there will be, I hope, nothing new in the 
above statement, but there are more to whom it will not only be new but 
also incredible. In this connection I wish to state an occurrence, which, 
although not quite conclusive in its character, may, if known, recall to 
others similar occurrences with the same species, and they may have met 
with more definite results. 


Two years ago, wishing to rear several broods of Zacles imperialis, I 
placed a female of that. species in a favorable situation for attracting the 
male. I had forgotten whether the male usually remained in the company 
of the female for a long or a short time, and watched pretty closely till 1 
o’clock a. m., for the purpose of ascertaining that fact. 


I was much chagrined to find that at none of my visits was there any 
male visible. I was up betwixt 3 and 4 o’clock, a. m., still no male; and 
at broad daylight the result was the same. The female had, however, laid 
on the branches of the tree on which she was confined about thirty eggs, 
and although I considered them worthless, I put them into a small box 
without quite knowing why. I removed the female the next night toa 
still more promising spot, hoping that the eggs remaining in her might still 
be impregnated. No trace however of a male was visible, but, by the 
next morning, she had laid a quantity of eggs which I secured as 
before. 


Every one of these eggs were fertile ; but now comes the curious part 
of the matter. Every one of the larvae were of the dark brown variety, 
not a green one amongst them. 


Now what I would like to learn is this: Does any one know of any 
case in which zfericlis has produced fertile eggs without male assistance 
and, if so, what color were the larvae ? 


18 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








CORRESPONDENCE. 


San Francisco, Cat, Nov., 1873. 
DEAR SIR,— 


Many printed pages you devote to the question of nomenclature and 
rights of priority of generic and specific names. Allow me a small space in 
your columns to say a word in no way personal, still from a different 
point of view, yet with deference to the contending opinions. 


In the first place I would claim a general acknowledgement for such 
compilers of entomological material as have in an exhaustive way at their 
time—so far as exhaustion is possible—published the results of their 
researches, and which compilations form entireties of certain large groups 
of insects. I will refer to only a few, among them Burmeister, for his 
Rhynchosa and Gymnognatha ; Gyllenhall, for his North European Cole- 
optera ; Harold and Gemminger’s Munich Catalogue of the World’s 
Coleoptera; also, Ochsenheimer and Freitschke’s work on Lepidoptera 
of Europe, this latter one so complete with Geometridz and Micros. 


All these compilers have worked with the full understanding of the 
value of generic names come down to them from earlier authorities, have 
been guided by the wish of letting Linne’s and other great author’s earliest 
names stand for the typical genus, giving room at the same time where, by 
newer discoveries, new genera had necessarily been created, for their 
interpolation. ‘The great completeness of these published compilations, 
based upon conscientious researches, is what has created, if not all over 
the world, at least in Europe, the use and endearment of certain generic 
names that in my opinion might be everywhere respected, and will, I 
hope, everywhere and for ever be adopted. I see no necessity of going 
further back than the authority of such great compilers, even if a few 
errors of judgment, as likely, have occurred. 


To restrict my observations to Lepidoptera only, I will here especially 
refer to Ochsenheimer and Freitschke’s work of wonderful completeness ; 
it treats of European Lepidoptera only. The European Fauna has its 
representatives all the world over, and it is around and between European 
genera that the world’s new species have to be ranged, whether or not the 
formation of new genera becomes necessasy. Such ground work or basis 
for a complete series of classes and genera as O. & F. have compiled 
might, in my opinion, be followed up and their generic names without 
omission be adhered to. Addressing American Entomologists, I would 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 19 


allow myself the question: Might not all controversy about generic 
names, whether from earlier or later editions of Linne’s or from other early 
authorities, be dropped, and all punctilious adhesion to priority be 
dismissed ; might not the long-familiar names on the strength of above 
named second-hand authorities be with safety fixed upon as final and 


generally acknowledged ? 
Yours respectfully, 


JAMES BEHRENS. 


P. S.—It would be well if the authors of new created generic names 
would give their Greek or Latin derivations. 


HABITAT, ECONOMY, ETC., OF AGROTIS FENNICA, EVERSMAN. 
SPRING BANK, ST. CATHARINES, ONT., DEC. 22, 1873. 
DEAR SIR,— 


I am very anxious to obtain information respecting Agrotis fennica, 
Eversman, whether it is an abundant species in any part of Canada or the 
United States, and, being a stranger in this country, would be very 
thankful would any gentleman conversant with the insect, kindly aid me 
in the pages of the Can. ENT., by any information he may posess touching 
its economy in the larval state, food plant, time of year when the imago 
is found, or any other necessary details. 


Finally, should any Entomologist have duplicate specimens to spare, I 
need scarcely say they will be very acceptable, and later on in the season 
I will do my best in return to repay the obligation, and send an equivalent 
in any desirable species from this neighborhood. 


1 have read with much interest the articles on collecting in late 
numbers of the Can. ENT., especially as my experience with cyanide of 
potassium as a killing material induced me years ago to abandon that 
method. I had the material both in tight-fitting boxes and glass-stoppered 
bottles, in all cases the cyanide being covered with a stratum of plaster 
of Paris. Asa killer it does admirably, but, according to my experience, 
it renders the moths so rigid that in setting the wings are very lable to 
be torn in lifting them into position. This method of killing with cyanide 
was, indeed, condemned years ago in England owing to this very cause. 


GEO. NORMAN. 


20 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


ZOOLOGICAL Museum, CAMBRIDGE, U.S., DEc. 20. 
DEAR SIR,— \ 

I have commenced to study and arrange the Coleoptera in the 
Museum, and hope to get help on all sides, and shall be particularly glad 
to see specimens in the less studied groups. At present I have finished 
the N. American Phytophaga, and hope to work at the Staphylinide ere 
long. I also want to see all the Dytiscidae that I can, as it is only by a 
long series that much can be done. Irhall be glad to hear from any one 


interested in exotic insects, also. Yours truly, 
G. R. Crorcu. 


LARVA OF P. BREVICAUDA. 


We extract the following from a letter recently received from Mr. 
Edwards :—Miss Peart has drawn the larvaof drevicauda. It differs from 
astertas larva in that the black transverse bands are broken, and no yellow 
spots are between them; the lowest black spot is triangular, and so to 
each band. It is more like zolicaon, although that has yeilow spots. The 
point is that it is not asvertas. 


W. H. Epwarps, Coalburgh, W. Va., 18th Nov., 1873. 


BOWsaN OLTITCES: 


Hackberry Butterflies. Descriptions of the early stages of Apatura Lycaon, Fabr. and Apatura Herse, 
Fabr., with remarks on their synonymy, from the Trans. St. Louis Acad. Science. 8 vo., pp. 14, 
with four illustrations by Chas. V. Riley, M. A., Ph. D., St. Louis. 


On Platypsyllide, a new family of Coleoptera, from the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 
8 vo., pp. 6, with one plate, by J. L. Le Conte, M. D. 


Seltsame Geschicte eines Tagfalters, von Samuel H. Scudder. 
Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, vol. xv, parts 3 and 4, Dec., ’72 to April, ’73. 
Nature, to December 11th. 

Science Gossip, December. 

American Naturalist, December, 1873, January, 1874. 
Canada Farmer, December 15 and 30. 

Prairie Farmer to Dec. 27. 

The Horticulturist, Nov. and Dec.. 

Rural New Yorker to Jan., ’73. 

American Agriculturist, Jan. 

Maine Farmer to Dec. 27. 


Che Canadwn Entomologist. 





VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., FEBRUARY, 1874. No. 2 








THE FOOD-PLANTS OF EUROPEAN BUTTERFLIES. 
BY S. H. SCUDDER, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


Kaltenbach is publishing a work entitled Die Pflanzen-Feinde aus der 
Classe der Insecten, two parts of which have appeared and carry the 
investigation through the willows. He enumerates all the German insects 
known to feed upon particular plants ; annotated lists of more than three 
hundred species of insects are sometimes ascribed to a single tree. Among 
these are many butterflies, and by collating them I have prepared the 
following list, believing that, as it is fuller than any yet published, it will 
be of great service to those who are endeavoring to discover or extend 
the histories of our own butterflies. As soon as the work of Kaltenbach 
is completed, a supplement will be prepared to this list. The nomen- 
clature of the butterflies is altered to make it accord with Staudirger’s 
last catalogue. 


1. Apatura iris—Salix caprea, S. aurita. 

a. i eia—Salix, Populus tremula, P. dilatata. 

oe oe ‘“* var. c/ytie—Populus tremula, P. canescens. 

4. Limenitis populi—Populus tremula. 

5 S camilla—Lonicera ccerulea, L. xylosteum, L. caprifolium, 
L. periclymenum. 

6. a sibilla—Same plants as the preceding. 

7. Vanessa levana—uUrtica dioica. 

8. “ — egea—Salix, Parietaria officinalis. 

9. “  — C. abum—Ulmus campestris, Humulus lupulus, Urtic 


urens, Ribes rubrum, R. grossularia, Corylus avel- 
lana, Lonicera xylosteum. 

10. ‘¢  polychloros—Pyrus communis (pear), P. malus (apple), P. 
cydonia (quince), P. cerasus (cherry), Ulmus, 
Salix, Populus, Cornus. 


22, _ THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








11. Vanessa xanthomelas—Populus, Ulmus, Salix caprea, S. acuminata, 
S. glauca, S. vitellina. 


£2. “« L. album—Ul mus, Salix. 

13; “« — uwrtice—Urtica hispida, etc. 

14. “ . go—Urtica, Humulus. 

Te “ — antiopa—Salix, Betula, Populus, Tilia (Ulmus is not given.) 
16. “¢  atalanta—Urtica dioica, U. urens. | 

07. “  cardui—Cirsium oleraceum, C. arvense, C. palustre, C. lan- 


ceolatum, Carduus natans, Malva_ rotundifolia, 
Gnaphalium arenarium, G. luteoalbum, Achillea 
millefolium, Artemisia. vulgaris, Filago arvensis, 
Onopordum acanthium, Cynara scolymus, Centaurea 
benedicta, Urtica dioica, Carlina. 

18. Argynnis aphirape—Polygonum distorta, Viola palustris. 


19. oe selene—Viola canina, V. tricolor. 

20. es euphrosyne—Vniola canina. 

2, : pates—Viola montana. 

22. vs dia—Viola cdorata. 

22. oF daphne—Viola, Rubus ideeus, R. fruticosus. 

24. 4g zno—Urtica. 

25. ef lathonia—Viola arvensis, V. tricolor, Hedysarum onobry- 
chis, Anchusa officinalis. 

26. a aglaja—Viola canina. 

2. i niobe—Viola odorata, V. tricolor. 

28. de adippe—Viola odorata, V. tricolor. 

20. “<  paphia—Hesperis tristis, Viola canina, Rubus ideeus, 
Urtica. 

30. ¢  pandora—Viola. 

31. Melitea cynthia—Plantago lanceolata, Pedicularis rostrata. 

22. ‘¢ — maturna—Melampyrum nemorosum, Populus tremula, Salix 
capreea, Fraxinus excelsior, Veronica, Plantago. 

33. “  aurinia—Geranium sanguineum, Scabiosa, Veronica, Plan- 
tago. 

34. ‘“¢ _ cinxia—Plantago lanceolata, Veronica, Hieracium pilosella, 
H. canescens. 

ac. ‘<  phebe—Centaurea scabiosa, C. jacea. 

36. “ trivia—Verbascum thapsus, V. nigrum. 

2a. ‘“ didyma — Artemesia abrotanum, Plantago, Centaurea, 


Stachys, Linaria vulgaris, Veronica, Teucrium chameedrys. 


38. 


39: 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 23 


Melitea dictynna—Melampyrum nemorosym, Spirea aruncus, S. 
ulmaria, Veronica. . 
“  athalia—Melampyrum sylvaticum, M. pratense, M. nemo- 
rosum, Plantago, Veronica chamaedrys, Chrysan- 
themum corymbosum, Digitalis ochroleuca. 


‘<  aurelia—Plantago. 


i ‘ 
- “var. britomartis—Veronica chamaedrys, Melampyrum 
pratense. 


“«  parthenie—Plantago lanceolata, Centaurea jacea, Melampy- 
rum pratense. 


Nemeobius luctna—Rumex, Primula. 
Thecla betule—Prunus spinosa, P. armeniaca. 
‘¢  sfint—Rhamnus saxatilis, R. cathartica, R. frangula, Prunus 
spinosa, P. domestica. 


‘¢ W. album—U\|mus campestris. 

“<  weces—Ulmus. 

“  acacie—Prunus spinosa. 

pruni—Prunus spinosa, Amygdalus communis, Rhamnus 
cathartica. 

rubi—Prunus spinosa, Rhamnus, Cytisus, Hedysarum ono- 
brychis, Amygdalus persica, Rubus, Genista, Ledum 
palustre. 

Lycena betica—Spartium, Colutea, Phaca beetica. 

“© telicanus—Lythrum salicaria. 

“«  argiades—Lotus corniculatus, Anthyllis vulneraria, Medi- 
cago falcata, M. lupulina, Trifolium arvense, T. 
pratense, Pisum sativum. 

“  argyrotoxus—Genista, Colutea arborescens, Trifolium. 

“¢  argus—Rhamnus, Trifolium montanum, Mellilotus officin- 
alis, Genista germanica, Spartium scoparium, Hedy- 
sarum onobrychis, Lotus  corniculatus, Erica 
vulgaris. 

“  optilete—Vaccinium oxycoccos. 

‘< orion—Sedum telephium. 


“  astrarche—FErodium cicutarium, Geranium dissectum, G. 
pusillum. 
‘“  gcarus—Tnifolum, Mellilotus, Genista, Ononis_ spinosa, 


Astragalus glyciphyllos, Fragaria vesca, Medicago. 


24 


60. 


86. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





Lycena bellargus—Trifolium, Coronilla varia, C. montana, Hippo- 
crepis comosa, Genista sagittalis, Stachys. 

coridon—Vicia, Astragalus, Coronilla varia. 

hylas—Trifolium, Mellilotus officinalis. 

dolus—Trifolium. 

damon—Hedysarum onobrychis. 

argtolus—Rhamnus frangula, Mespilus, Pyrus malus. 

mintma—Anthyllis vulneraria. 

semiargus—M ellilotus. 

cy@arus—Astragalus glyciphyilos, Trifolium, Mellilotus, 
Genista sagittalis, G. germanica, Hedysarum ono- 
brychis. 

jolas—Colutea arborescens. 

Polyommatus virgauree—Solidago virgaureze, Rumex acutus, R. 

acetosa. 


ce 


dispar—Rumex, Polygonum. 

hippothoc—Rumex acetosa. 

alciphron—Rumex acetosa. 

dorilis—Rumex acetosa, R. acetosella. 

phleas—Rumex acetosa. 

amphidamas—Rumex acetosa, Polygonum _bistorta, 

Viola canina. 

Rhodocera rhamni—Rhamnus cathartica, Frangula, Mespilus ger- 

manica, Pyrus. 

cleopatra—Rhamnus alpinus. 

Colias paleno-—Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Vaccinum uliginosum. 

«¢  hyale—Coronilla varia, Trifolium, Vicia. 
myrmidtone—Cytisus biflorus, C. nigricans. 
edusa—Onobrychis, Cytisus. 

Pieris brassice—Brassica, Rhaphanus sativus, Cochlearia armoracia, 
Sinapis, Lepidium sativum, Tropzolum, Cheiranthus 
annuus. 

rape—the same plants as the preceding, and also Reseda. 

napi—PBrassica oleracea, B. napus, Reseda lutea, R. luteola, 
R. odorata, Turritis glabra, Alliaria officinalis, 
Sinapis. | 

daplidice—Reseda lutea, Turritis glabra, Erucastrum, Rha- 
phanus rhaphanistrum, Sisymbrium sophia, Capsella 
bursa-pastoris, Alyssum incanum, Sinapis, Thlaspl. 


ce 


cc 


ce 


87. 


88. 


S89. 
go. 


gi. 
92. 


93: 


94. 


95: 
96. 


97: 


98. 
99. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 29 


Aporia crategi—Crategus oxyacantha, Prunus spinosa, P. domes- 
tica, P. padus, Pyrus malus, P. communis, Mespilus, 
Sorbus. 

Anthocaris cardamines—Alliaria_ officinalis, Cardamine impatiens, 
Turritis glabra, Brassica campestris, Hesperis, 
Sinapis, Thlaspi. 

Leucophasia sinapis—Lotus corniculatus, Lathyrus pratensis, Tri- 
folium pratense (Sinapis is not given). 

Parnassius apollo—Sedum album, Telephium, Sempervivum tec- 
torum. 

‘ mnemosyne—Corydalis bulbosa, C. solida. 

Papilio sinon—Pranus spinosa, P. domestica, Pyrus malus, P. com- 

munis, Amygdalus persica, A. communis, Quercus. 
“< machaon—Carum carui, Anethum foeniculum, Apium graveo- 

lens, Daucus carota, Pimpinella saxifraga, Angelica 
sylvestris, Peucedanum ‘chabrei, Heracleum, Oreosi- 
linum. 

Nisoniades tages—Iberis pinnati, Eryngium campestre, Lotus corni- 
culatus, Coronilla varia. 

Spilothyrus alcee—Malva. 

Syrichtus alveus—Polygala chameebuxus. 





4 malve—Malva moschata, Plantago lanceolata, Fragaria, 
Comarum, Rubus. 
Fé sao—Rubus ideeus. 


Carterocephalus palemon—Plantago. 


100. Hesperia sylvanus—Plantago major, Althea rosea, Malva moschata, 


£O1. 


Lavatera communis. 
I comma—Coronilla varia. 


NOTES ON COLLECTING CATOCALAS. 


BY ROBERT BUNKER, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 


In many respects the Catocalas are among the most interesting of the 


moths. The contrast of color between their fore and hind wings renders 
them objects of great beauty, and hence these fair forms of the woods 


26 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





ed 


are eagerly sought after by collectors. My spare time this season was 
spent in collecting Catocalas. In this part of the country they may be 
found from the first of June till the first of November. Amasia and 
wltronia are seen first; I took a fine amasza on the z9th of May, and an 
ultronta on the roth of June. Cara and several other species may be 
found as late as the first of November. 


Oak woods, where the trees are young and sufficiently scattered to 
admit the sunlight, are the most favorable places for collecting. Ina 
small piece of woods of not more than four acres, 1 captured thirty-two 
specimens, among which were thirteen different species. I was unable to 
visit the place more than eight times; probably many more could have 
been taken had my visits been more frequent. My collecting was done 
in this manner: On approaching a tree I examined the trunk carefully up 
as high as the first limbs; if a Catocala was seen, and low enough down 
to reach, I used a paper box (collar box) to secure the prize, but if high 
up the net was brought into requisition. If I failed to find one, I gave 
the tree a vigorous shake, and if one was lurking anywhere about the 
trunk it was sure to start up and fly, generally but a short distance, when 
it would settle, and by cautiously approaching the tree I found no diffi- 
culty in securing it. Sometimes two would start up from one tree, 
generally male and female, and in such a case it was no easy matter to 
follow both of them ; still I generally managed to secure them. AsI 
examined trees I marked them with chalk to save the trouble of working 
the ground twice over. 


Catocalas, like the lappet moths, usually alight on objects that har- 
monize with their own colors. Those with light grey fore wings were 
found on white oak (Quercus alba), and those with dark wings, like 
epione and cara, on black oak ( Quercus nigra). 


In alate number of the ENromo.ocist, Mr. Grote gave us a list of 
the Catocalas, fifty-nine in number ; he now adds four new ones to the 
list. My impression is that additional species will be found in the northern 
and middle States. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 27 








ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 


12, THE AMERICAN COPPER UNDERWING— 
Amphipyra pyramidoides, Guen. 


BY THE EDITOR. 


This insect is a troublesome one in many parts of our province, and 
‘is yearly increasing. It first attracted attention by its depredations on 
‘the foliage of the vine, but now, with us, while it is still a plague in the 
vinery, itis more abundant on plum and apple trees, and is also common 
on the thorn. It has been knownin popular language as “the pyramidal 
grape vine worm” on account of the larva having a pyramidal hump 
near the end of its body; also as “the green grape vine worm,” in 
‘consequence of the larva being of a green colour, but since it is not by 
any means restricted to the grape, we prefer the common name placed at 
the head of this article—‘‘ the American copper underwing ”—given to it 
because the hind wings of the moth are of a lustrous copper colour. A 
very similar moth, Amphipyra pyramidea, Linn., is common in Europe, 
the larva of which feeds on the oak, elm, poplar and other trees, and since 
this insect is known in England as “the copper underwing,” we think 
the common name we have referred to, which was first suggested by Mr, 
EE Riley, is a very appropriate 

one for our species. 

The larva, of which a very 
good representation is given 
in figure 3, first attracts notice 
early in June, when it may be found about half grown and feeding 
vigorously; by the middle of the month it has usually attained its full 
-size, when it measures from one and a quarter to one and a half inches in 
length. The head is rather small, flattened in front, and of a whitish 
green color, with the mandibles tipped with black. The body is of a 
delicate whitish green, a little darker on the sides, with a white stripe 
-down the back, a little broken between the segments and somewhat 
widened behind. On each side, close to the under surface, there is a 























28 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


bright yellow stripe which is most distinct on the hinder segments, and a 
second one of the same color, but fainter, half way between this and the 
dorsal line ; this latter is more distinct on the posterior portion of the 
body, where it follows the peculiar pyramidal hump or prominence on the 
twelfth segment, as shown in the figure. The under surface of the body. 
is pale green. 


When full grown this caterpillar descends to the ground, and, drawing 
together some loose fallen leaves or other rubbish, spins within a loose 
silken cocoon, where in due time it changes to a dark, shining brown 
chrysalis, from which the moth usually escapes in the latter part of July ;. 
those which we have reared have appeared about the 2oth of the month. 


The moth, see figure 4, measures, when its wings are expanded, about 


one and three quarter inches. The fore wings are dark brown, shaded 
Fig. 4. 


with paler brown, and with dots and 
wavy lines of a glossy grey or dull 
_ whitish hue. The hind wings are red- 
' dish with. more or less of a coppery 
' lustre; browner on the outer angle of 
the front edge of the wing, and paler . 
towards the hinder and inner angle.-— 
The body is dark brown with the hinder 
portion banded with lines of a paler shade. The under surface of the 
wings is much hghter in color than the upper. 





In what stage of its existence this insect passes the winter months has 
not yet been determined. Whether the eggs, which are probably laid 
during August, remain dormant during the remainder of the summer and 
hatch early the following spring, or whether the eggs hatch into larvee 
early in the fall, and the larve, while still young, become torpid and sleep 
through the long winter months, remains undecided ; we incline, however, 
to the latter view. 


Where the caterpillars prove troublesome their numbers may be 
lessened by jarring the trees or vines on which they are feeding with the 
hand, when they will usually drop to the ground, where, on account. 
of their green color, they can be readily seen and destroyed. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 29: 


ON ANISOPTERYX VERNATA AND POMETARIA. 
BY H. K. MORRISON, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


There has been some confusion lately in regard to the limits and 
synonymy of these two common species, partially due to Dr. Harris’ 
unsatisfactory reference to them in his ‘‘ Report on the Insects of Mas- 
sachusetts,” 1841, and to the inaccessibility of Prof. Peck’s original 
description of A. vernata. 


In the numerous notes on these species and references to them in 
recent publications, they are in nearly all cases confounded together or 
wrongly determined ; and I have not found them correctly named in a 
single collection which I have examined. 


I reprint the descriptive portion of Prof. Peck’s excellent essay. He 
was only acquainted with verzafa and makes no reference to any other 
species. Dr. Harris considered fometfaria the true “‘ canker worm,” and 
vernata a variety ; on what grounds I do not know, as the latter is much 
the commoner, and, I presume, the most destructive. The following 
description of verzata was published in the Massachusetts JZagazine, vol.. 
vii, Sept. and Oct., 1795, and reprinted in 1827 in the New England 
Farmer, vol. v.: 


“* Phalaena vernata, geometra geticornis, alis cinereis, fascit tribus obscuris, 
“fuscis, posticis immaculatis, femina aptera. The wings are ash color 
“with three obscure blackish transverse stripes, and a small dash of the 
““same color at the tip; the under wings are of a uniform color and 
“rather lighter than the ground color of the upper ones. The body of 
“the female is nearly four lines in length, ash colored and marked on the 
“back with a brown list extending from the thorax to the tail. In thirteen 
“ days the females deposit their eggs ;_ these are placed in the crannies of 
“the bark in the forks of small branches, and where there are spots of 
“moss upon the smaller limbs; they seem most fond of insinuating 
‘themselves in the cavities between its leaves. For this purpose they 
“are furnished with a tube through which the egg is passed. The egg is 
“elliptic, one-thirtieth of an inch in length, of a pearl color with a 
“ yellowish cast. The larve when full grown are about 9 lines long. The 
‘“‘ head pale, marked on each side with two transverse blackish stripes, the 


30 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


—_—— 


“‘back ash colored, marked lengthwise with small interrupted dusky lines. 
“The sides blackish, with a pale line along the length of the body ; there 
“are two white spots on the last segment of the body. The abdomen 
‘beneath is ash colored. The chrysalis is about five lines long and one 
“and one-half lines in diameter, of a light hazel color, oblong and | 
“pointed at one end. ‘Their natural and regular time of rising is about 
“the middle of March, but happens earlier or later according to the 
“warmth or coldness of the season.” 


Dr. Harris described the male of what he considered the true ‘‘ canker 
worm moth” as follows. The femalé he seems to have confounded with 
the females of vernata. 


Saal a 


he fore wings are ash colored, with a distinct whitish spot on the 
“front edge near the tip ; these are crossed by two whitish, jagged bands 
“along the sides of which there are several blackish dots ; the outermost 
‘band has an angle near the front edge, within which there is a short, 
“faint, blackish line, and there is a row of black dots along the outer 
‘margin close to the fringe. The hind wings are pale ash colored, with 
“a faint blackish dot near the middle. The wings expand about one 
“inch and a quarter. This species may be called Avmisopteryx pome- 
Orla”. 


It has been thought that perhaps these two forms were the autumnal 
and vernal broods of the same species. 


That the two species are entirely distinct, differing from one another 
in the most positive and unmistakable characters, has been abundantly 
shown by Mr. B. Mann in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of 
Natural History. 


I give below the distinctive characters of the two species arranged in 
the most convenient form for comparison. It will be noticed that while 
the species resemble each other closely externally, the differences, par- 
ticularly in the females, are in many cases structural. 


Vernata, Peck. Pometaria, Harr. 


The first seven rings of the ab- The first seven rings of the ab- 
domen in both sexes bear each domen in both sexes with no spines 
upon the back two transverse rows upon the back. 
of stiff red spines, pointing towards 
the end of the body. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


Fore wings of male ash colored 
or brownish gray, the whitish spot 
found on the fore wings of omet- 
aria wanting. 

The whitish bands found on the 
fore wings of Jometaria are wanting, 
but there is a jagged, submarginal 
white band on the upper side of 
the fore wings in most specimens. 


Three interrupted dusky lines 
across the fore wings, instead of 
two lines as in fomefaria; some- 
times these lines are only indicated 
by dark spots on the costa and by 
blackish dashes at the crossing of 
the median nervure. 


There is an oblique black dash 
near the tip of the fore wings, also 
a distinct, nearly uniform, continu- 
ous black line before the fringe. 


The white band found on the 
hind wings of ometaria is wanting. 


Abdomen of the female termin- 
ating in a retractile ovipositor rather 
acutely tapering behind. 


Body and legs of the female 
clothed with whitish and dark brown 
dentate scales; general coloration 
not uniform ; a black, dorsal, longi- 
tudinal, interrupted band on the 
abdomen ; a whitish patch on each 
side of the beginning of the band ; 
the spines often give a reddish tinge 
to the part they occupy. 


31 





Fore wings of male ash colored, 
with a distinct whitish spot on the 
front edge near the tip. 


Forewings crossed by two whitish 
jagged bands ; the outermost band 
has an angle near the front edge ; 
the whitish bands are sometimes 
obsolete, in which case only the 
whitish spot remains. 

Along the sides of the whitish 
bands there are several blackish 
dots, each on a nervule, and all 
generally connected together by a 
dusky band which includes them. 


Within the angle of the outer- 
most whitish band, near the front 
edge, there is a short, faint, blackish 
line, and there is a marginal row of 
black dots before the fringe. 


In most specimens a _ curved 
white discal band extending across 
the hind wings. 


Abdomen of the female without 
ovipositor, terminating bluntly. 


Body and legs of the female 
smooth, clothed with glistening 
brown and white truncate scales 
intermixed, giving the body the ap- 
pearance of uniform shining, dark 
ash color above, and gray beneath. 


pa THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIS'. 


In regard to the time of appearance of the species, vernata emerges: 
in the spring (March and April). I have never seen a specimen taken in 
the autumn. It is by far the commoner of the two. Pometaria is not so 
common as vernata, and the great majority of specimens emerge in the 
fall or early winter, very rarely a few remaining over until the spring. The 
spring specimens of the male are very strongly marked, of a dark smoky 
brown, resembling somewhat in coloration the dark suffused variety of 
Cleora pulchiaria, Minot. Although I have searched particularly for 
them, I have never been able to take but two males. The females seem 
to be more common in the spring, and do not differ from the fall speci- 
mens. 


I have examined 150 male, 70 female vernafa; 40 male, 60 female 
pometaria, taken in the autumn, and 2 male, 10 female Jometaria, taken in: 
the spring. 


NOTES ON THE LARVA OF BOARMIA LARVARIA, GUENEE. 
BY THE EDITOR. 


Several of the larvz of this species were taken on the 24th of June; 
they were found feeding on willow and taken by beating the bushes over 
an umbrella. 


Length one inch ; body cylindrical. 


Head medium-sized, flat, bilobed ; brownish grey in front, a little 
darker at the sides, with a patch of brownish black on the summit of 
each lobe, and a few short brownish hairs ; mandibles brownish black. 


Body above reddish brown, smooth and glossy, having here and there 
a greenish tint, and with many fine longitudinal lines of a Slightly darker 
shade scarcely visible without a lens. On each segment, from fifth to 
twelfth inclusive, there are two small black dots on each side of the dorsal 
line, and on sixth segment a black tubercle with a small patch of white at 
its base in front. On seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh segments 
are similar black tubercles, but much smaller, with a whitish dot on the 
anterior part of the base of each, most distinct on tenth and eleventh 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. oe 








segments. ‘Twelfth segment with two scarcely raised black tubercles 
above, a short black streak on each side behind them, and a small whitish 
spot in front ; terminal segment with a few very fine short brownish hairs. 
Spiracles small sub-oval, pale ringed with black. 


Under surface similar to the upper, with the greenish tint a little more 
decided and a central stripe of greenish white widening between the two 
pairs of prolegs ; each segment from fifth to ninth has several small black 
dots. Feet yellowish green, faintly ringed with black at their base; pro- 
legs green, marked with reddish brown on the outside. 


Two specimens entered the chrysalis state on the 25th of June; one 
produced the imago on the gth’of July, the other on the 12th. ‘The 
moth was kindly determined for me by Dr. A. S. Packard, Salem, Mass. 


A DISSERTATION ON NORTHERN BUTTERFLIES. 
BY WILLIAM COUPER, MONTREAL. 


The Swallow-tail Butterflies which occur on the Islands of Anticosti 
and Newfoundland, and on the north coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence 
are at present a subject of dispute, both as to species and position among 
the Papilionide. Having séme knowledge of their localities and geo- 
graphical range, I venture to state my opinion on the matter. 


When I first visited the south coast of Labrador, in 1867, a Swallow- 
tail butterfly was taken by me at Natashquan, where it was rare. I 
supposed it then to be a boreal variety or race of Astertas, and on my 
return to Quebec presented two or three specimens to the Rev. Mr. Innes, 
who had a collection of Lepidoptera among which were specimens of a 
smaller Pafilio, which he informed me came from St. John’s Newfound- 
land. Mr. Innes removed afterwards to London, Ont., and I heard no 
more of the Labrador or Newfoundland Pafi/ios until Mr. W. Saunders 
described his Pagilio brevicauda in ‘ Packard’s Guide.” Mr. Saunders 
obtained his specimen through the kindness of Mr. Innes, who told him 
that he had received it from an officer who had been spendirg some time 
at St. John’s. If the Pafz/zos taken by me at Natashquan, Labrador were 
in Mr. Innes’ cabinet when Mr. S. obtained the specimen described as 
brevicauda, did Mr. Innes point them out to Mr. S. in order to compare 
with those from Newfoundland? ‘This primary question should be 
answered, because there is no evident difference between the Pafi/io of 


34 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





Anticosti and that of the Labrador coast.* Yet Mr. Saunders states. 
(April 30th, 1873) ‘that he saw one of my Anticosti specimens at Mr. 
‘“‘ Mead’s, in New York, but did not feel at all satisfied that it was identi- 
“cal with his drevicauda.  Polyxenes is Scudder’s new name for asterias, 
“but he (Scudder) does not regard drevicauda now as identical with it.” 


I have tried to obtain a specimen of the Newfoundland Papz/io, and 


communicated with a gentleman residing at St. John’s, Newfoundland,,. 


asking him to procure specimens of this swallow-tail butterfly forme. He 


says: ‘‘In my opinion it is very rare in this district. During the last 


“three summers I have seen but one specimen, and some of my 
‘friends here confirm the opinion regarding its rarity.” That he has 
reason to believe that in other parts of the Island it is more abundant, 
as he has heard of it at Cod Roy, on the western coast, and Notre 
Dame Bay, in the north of the Island. He adds “-that a siaiam 
“Entomologist has been enquiring for it on the south coast of the Island 
“ for some time, without success.” 


I am contident that it becomes scarce as we proceed down the 
south coast of Labrador, towards the Straits of Belle Isle. The true 
habitat of the Papilio’ (specimens of which I gave Rev. Mr. Innes in 
1867) is the Island of Anticosti, where it occurs more abundantly than 
in Labrador or Newfoundland. It is met with occasionally at Mingan, 
but more commonly at the mouths of rivers east of Seven islands. 


The description in ‘‘ Packard’s Guide” does not exactly correspond 
with the external markings of the Anticosti specimens, and I candidly 
state that I have never seen a butterfly whose general features are more 
uniform than in that of the latter Island. 


Mr. Edwards, of W. Virginia, states that it is not related to asterias, 
but to machaon and zolicaon. Ina letter from him, dated August, 1873, he 
thinks that the Anticosti Papilio is undoubtedly drevicauda, Saunders,. 
whose description was taken from a single 2, and the fulvous prevailed 
remarkably in the yellow spots. That the description of drevicauda fits. 
one of the Anticosti 2 exactly. He points out, however, wherein the 
Anticosti Papilio differs notably in two respects from mcchaon, or the 
American representative of that, viz., P. Alaska, Scudder, and from 
zolicaon. 1st—the hind wings are black, while in the others from base to 


* The specimen Mr. Innes gave me was from Newfoundland. He did not show 
me Mr. Couper’s specimens.—Ep. C. E. 


‘ 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 35 


disc they are yellow. 2nd—the abdomen of the Anticosti species is. 
spotted with yellow like asterias, while all the others have that part black 
with yellow lines, as in ¢urnus. In a letter from Mr. Edwards, dated 
Sept. rst, 1873, he says that ‘‘we had all béen looking for affinity to 
asterias, while the butterfly belonged to another group. Strecker described 
it as a var. of asterias, and so Packard considered drevicauda a var. of 
asterias. In my synopsis I put the species down as a var. of asterias. It 
is many years since I saw the original drevzcauda, and I have forgotten its 
appearance ; but inreading over the description in Packard, I consider 
that the excess of fulvous is the only permanent distinction between the 
Newfoundland and Anticosti specimens.” Mr. Grote agrees with Mr. 
Edwards that the Pagzlzo collected in Anticosti is drevicauda, Saunders, but 
I think my memory serves me correctly when I state that the specimens. 
of Papilio in Mr. Innes’ collection from Newfoundland were considered 
distinct by the latter gentleman and myself, at that time. The Newfound- 
land specimens were smaller than those from Labrador; indeed, we 
looked on the St. John’s butterfly as dwarfed, but the species was not then 
determined. | 


Not having access to all the forms constituting connecting groups of 
Papilios, J am not prepared to concur with the gentlemen who have 
classed it with machaon or zoltcaon. At first view the Anticosti butterfly 
takes the characters of astertoides, Reakirt, and asterzas, while the form 
has a mere approach to machaon and zolicaon. I suppose it is on account 
of the latter affinity that Mr. Edwards places it near machaon and zolicaon, 
but there are these notable differences between the Anticosti Papilio and 
P. Alaska, Scudder, or zolicaon, viz., 1st, the hind wings are black and 
the zzterior band underneath is constant in form and number of spots, and 
the spots are not wedged into each other as in sofcaon or asterias. 2nd, 
the abdomen is spotted with yellow similar to as¢erias and asterioides, and 
in fact, in my judgment, the Anticosti Papilio, with the exception of the 
width of the macular band, is a prototype of asteriotdes, Reakirt, from 
Mexico. Constancy of marks on the wings and body of an insect, no 
matter to what order it belongs, is undoubtedly doa fide evidence of the 
stability of the species. 


We have evidence of European insects introduced into this country 
becoming acclimatized and segregated in course of years, and a few of 
these which we now find holding a local existence on such islands as 
Anticosti and Newfoundland, may have in earlier times found it necessary 


36 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








to search for more congenial localities, there becoming attached to new 
food plants, which, no doubt, have an influence in diversity of colors. We 
have an instance of this in the American representative of Vanessa 
antiopa, which is of rare occurrence in Anticosti ; but where it retains the 
features of its English congener, while those taken in more southern 
latitudes assume a different coloration. Instance also the introduction of 
Picris rape into Canada of late years. This species has now a struggle to 
exist in the latitude of Quebec, but so long as its food plant is abundant 
it will continue with us. It has been gradually moving south, where, with 
a more favorable climate, it propagates extensively. This butterfly also 
shows the effects of climate in the appearance of a yellow variety. It 
may be possible that the butterflies called drevieauda by Mr. Saunders and 
Anticostiensis by Mr. H. Strecker, had a similar origin. The connecting 
link or affinity of Papilio brevicauda with asterias is only a perplexing 
attempt to make the Anticosti form an ally of the continental 7. Pa 
which is Scudder’s new name for asterzas_, 


I cannot find sufficient reason for such connection, as there is quite a 
distinction between the larva of asterias and that of the Anticosti 
butterfly. It may, however, be discovered that an affinity occurs in 
P. asterioides and brevicauda or Anticostiensis ; and although the former is 
found in Mexico, I see no reason to doubt their connection in years gone 
by-* 


Considering the present rate of travel of Pieris rapae southwardly, it 
may during the course of another twelve years reach Costa Rica, and 
there change so much externally as to be claimed as another variety, while 
the Canadian form will still be called the segregated species. Mr. Her- 
mann Strecker, of Reading, Penn., in his “‘ Rhap. et Hetero.” No. 6, page 
48, gives the geographical distribution of asterias as follows :—‘‘ The 
“ ordinary form, with but little variation, occurs from Canada to Florida,” 
taking a southern range, while it extends west as far as Colorado. He 
considers asterioides to be the tropical form of asterias, that brevicauda 








* Nore.—‘‘ The insects of separate arctic regions have a great mutual resem- 
“‘blanece, and the difference between them increases in the successive concentric 
“‘circles from the above regions towards the equator. It has been said that the 
“‘advance of the glacial period ,was accompanied by the migration of insects 
‘“‘southwards, and that the present distribution of insects was effected by the pre- 
**valence of this epoch, and by the succeeding temperate epoch.” —F. Walker, F. Le 
S., in Can. Fut., vol. iii, p. 148. 


Che Canadian Entomologist, 


VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., MARCH, 1874. No. 3 


DESCRIPTION AND HABITS OF A SUPPOSED NEW SPECIES 
OF LEPIDOPTEROUS LARVA OF THE GENUS SPHINX. 


BY THCMAS G. GENTRY, GERMANTOWN, PA. 


Des.—Body cylindrical, tapering gradually anteriorly, 12-jointed, 
exclusive of head. © Head sub-elliptical, thickly punctured, moderately 
pubescent and of a yellowish brown color. Oral appendages largely 
developed. Antennz 3-jointed, cylindrical, acuminate, the basal joint 
very long and quite thick. A dark purplish curved band passes from the 
crown of the head to therightantenna. Prothoracic segment surmounted 
by a transversely elongated, punctated, corneous saddle, concolorous with 

the head. 


General color dark purple, relieved by two series of dorso-lateral 
gold-colored dots, ranging from the posterior half of the metathoracic 
to the seventh abdominal segment (each series containing twenty-seven 
points). The anterio1 half of the second, to the seventh abdominal 
segments inclusive, each furnished with a single, much larger, similarly 
colored one. Above the line of the prolegs, intermediate between this 
and that of the spiracles, on each side, is a row of irregularly shaped 
yellow spots. 


True legs moderately elongate, acuminate, 3-jointed and yellowish 
brown in hue, the tarsal joint being armed with a short, recurved, black 
claw: the whole slightly invested with short black hairs. The 
membraneous legs of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th abdominal segments 
cylindrical, thickish, abruptly truncate at base, and clothed with short 
reddish brown hairs, and armed on the inferior aspect interiorly with a 
double row of stiff, ferruginous hairs, for adhering to objects. Anal pro- 


42, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 
a 


leg sub-quadrangular, warty and pubescent, and surmounted by a triangular 
supra-anal plate of a dark purplish color, with the apex directed 
posteriorly. 


Prothoracic and first and abdominal rings are furnished each with a 
pair of transversely oval, yellowish spiracles. Inferior aspect of the larva 
is marked with clusters of white spots, relieving the monotony of the 
purple. Last abdominal segment surmounted by a moderately long 
recurved horn, yellowish brown in color, and bearing scattered gland like 
bodies, which manifest a tendency to become spines. Length nearly 3 
inches. ‘Taken in Germantown during the first week of September, while 
feeding upon the leaves of Polygonum pennsylvanicum. 


This larva, belonging, as it does, to the family Sphingide, is 
undoubtedly rare, as it is the only one that I have met with in all my 
entomological rambles; nor can I find in any of the works at my com- 
mand a description, still less a figure thereof. In some respects it 
resembles the full-grown larva of Sphinx euphorbia, described and figured 
in “ Transformation of Insects,” by Dr. Duncan; in others it differs very 
materially therefrom. In the Euphorbia Sphinx the yellow points are 
scattered promiscuously over the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the body, 
but in the specimen under consideration they are arranged with some view 
to order. ‘There is a still further resemblance in the irregular spots which 
flank the sides, just beneath the line of stigmata, and in the general 
color, the former being black, and the latter a rich dark purple. It differs 
from the former in being devoid of the three longitudinal lines of carmine 
tint, which is a prominent feature of it, and also in being more tapering 
anteriorly. 


There is one character in the life history of this larva which struck me 
as peculiarly novel and interesting, and which deserves to be placed upon 
record. Instead of assuming the peculiar Sphinx-like attitude in a state 
of rest, (whence the popular name of Sphinx is derived), and which is so 
familiar to entomological students as well as the outside world, it curves 
its body, bringing the head and tail in close proximity, réminding one of 
the position which is so easily and readily taken by the larva of Cimbex 
ulmi, Reek. 


It cannot be denied that this is its natural posture in a state of 
inaction. ‘To assure myself that a position which seemed so natural and 
easy to the worm was not an occasional one, I was permitted in the 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 43: 





intervals of relaxation and freedom from duty, to give it prolonged and 
careful attention for many consecutive days. In not a single instance did 
it assume the attitude so eminently characteristic of the Sphinx family. 


One other peculiar trait of its nature it was my happy fortune to 
observe. Caterpillars, as is well known, have a variety of ways for 
defending themselves against the annoyances and assaults of their 
enemies. While some are provided with hairs which act as irritating 
causes when brought into contact with highly sensitive surfaces, others are 
furnished with fearful looking spines which infuse a feeling of horror into 
their enemies, even when they have not the power toactas irritants. This 
species, presenting an almost perfectly smooth bodily surface, assuredly 
makes up from its lack of integumentary appendages, in being armed with 
a pair of powerful tridentate mandibles, which it uses freely and indis- 
criminately. 

Hundreds of Lepidopterous larvee have been handled with impunity 
by the writer, and this new method of self-defence, even where manifested, 
has been so slight as not to attract much attention. In this case the 
insect seemed unwilling to permit any familiarities. The softest touch of 
the finger was sharply resented. Onone occasion the writer’s finger was 
seized and held on to with such pertinacity, as to require considerable 
effort at extrication. The smart from this squeezing lingered for many 
minutes afterwards—a suitable punishment for his temerity. Even when 
laid upon the palm of the hand it continued its rapid twitchings from 
side to side, and with gaping jaws, as if still conscious of hidden danger, 
ready to vent the full measure of its infuriated passion upon anything that 
should come within their scope. 


In conclusion, I am sorry to say that my vzvarium having been unduly 
tampered with during my absence, this caterpillar, which was always 
exceedingly restless under confinement, effected its escape. On the 
discovery of the fact dilligent search was commenced, but no clue to its 
whereabouts could be obtained—it, doubtless, like many of its unfortunate 
kind, having become a rich morsel for some insect-loving bird. I trust to 
be able during the gradually approaching season to secure similar larve 
and bring them to the imago or moth condition. 


44 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








HESPERTA"PAWNEE. * /V.°52. 


BY G. M. DODGE, GLENCOE, DODGE CO., NEBRASKA. 


Male expands 1.45 inches. Primaries above fulvous. Subcostal, sub- 
median and subdorsal veins black at the base. Stigma black and 
conspicuous, followed by a dusky shade. A small black line at the 
extremity of the disk is preceded by a yellowish white or semi-transparent 
spot in the disk ; a similar spot, triangular in shape, appears between the 
first and second median veinlets at their divarication, and two others 
between the sixth and seventh subcostal veinlets. | The outer margin is 
broadly bordered with brown, which is finely powdered with fulvous scales 
toward the apex. 


Two nearly square fulvous spots between the last subcostal and first 
median veinlets, separate an oval brown patch that lies at the extremity 
of the disk, from the border. Costal edge blackish. Fringe white, dusky 
toward the apex. 


Secondaries fulvous, bordered with brown ; broadly and darkest along 
the anterior edge, narrowly on the outer edge, where it appears as cunei- 
form spots between the veinlets, and broadly again along the inner edge, 
where it is sprinkled with fulvous. Most of the veins on both wings are 
black. Underside of both wings pale yellow. Primaries black at base, 
having a black line corresponding to the stigma. 


Inner margin brown, preceded by a large whitish patch. Five pale 
whitish spots near the apex, another in the disk, and one between the 
first and second median veinlets. Fringe white at the anal angle, brown 
tipped with white at the apex. Secondaries have a whitish spot in the 
disk, and are crossed by a nearly straight row of small whitish spots. 
Head and thorax greenish yellow. Body black. Abdomen, breast and 
palpi yellowish white. Antennze black and yellow above, white tipped 
with chestnut below. 


The spots on the underside of secondaries sometimes obsolete. 


2 light brown above, with a slight purplish reflection. Primaries 
sprinkled with fulvous scales near the base and inner angle. There is a 
large, square, white spot in the disk, and an unequal, curved row of nine 
white spots extend from the costa—beginning about two-tenths of an inch 
from the apex—to the submedian vein. ‘The first three spots are narrow 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 45 


and equal, the fourth and fifth are small and square and lie nearest the 
outer edge of the wing, the sixth is larger and triangular, the seventh 
largest and square, the eighth and ninth are irregular in shape and partly 
fulvous. . 

Secondaries darkest along the anterior margin. A curved row of five 
whitish yellow spots, of which the second and third are longest, crosses 
the wing beyond the disk, and in the disk is a small yellow spot. A 
yellow streak precedes the last median veinlet, running to the outer 
margin. Fringe of all the wings white. Below, on the primaries, the 
same white spots appear as above, except that the eighth and ninth are 
merged in a large whitish patch situated as inthe male. A brown patch 
covers part of the base and inner margin, and extends to the center of the 
wing. On the secondaries three small white spots appear near the apex. 
The ground color of both wings is yellowish white, most deeply tinged 
with fulvous near the costal border of the primaries. Fringes white. 
Head, thorax and body brown above. Abdomen and palpi white. An- 
tennz black above, whitish tipped with red below. 

This species was taken at Glencoe, Nebraska, upon high rolling 
prairie, from the first to the middle of September. 

The writer can exchange a few males for United States diurnals, with 
those desirous of seeing the types. 


LIST OF NEUROPTERA 


COLLECTED BY }. PETTIT, GRIMSBY, ONT. 


Psocus striatus, Libellula 4-maculata, 
Pteronarcys biloba ? ‘¢ _ pulchella, 
Calopteryx maculata, «¢  semifasciata, 
Lestes rectangularis, Diplax intacta, 

‘¢ forcipata, “- rubicundula, 

«¢ unguiculata, Chauliodes pectinicornis, 
Agrion saucium, o maculatus, 

a aeene, 3 angusticollis, 

© irinets, " Polystoechotes punctatus, 
Aeschna constricta, Myrmeleon obsoletus, 
Plathemis trimaculata, Panorpa rufescens. 


Libellula luctuosa, 


A6 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 


~——e 


13. THE DISIPPUS BUTTERFL Y—Limenitis disippus, Godt. 


——— 


BY THE EDITOR. 


In the annual report of the Entomological Society of Ontario, for 
1872, this insect is referred to at some length, and from the material there 
given much of the following has been condensed. In the perfect or 
winged state it is tolerably common throughout Ontario, and in this 
condition it very closely resembles our common red or archippus butter- 
fly, see CAN. ENT., vol. v, p. 4, from which, however, it may always be 
distinguished by its smaller size and by a black band which crosses the 
hind wings, which band is entirely wanting in the archippus. 


Fig. 5 represents the disippus butterfly. The ground color of the 
wings is a warm orange red, with the veins heavy and black, and the 
margins spotted with white. In the figure the left wings represent the 
upper surface, while those of the right, which are slightly detached 
from the body, show the underside; the two surfaces differ but 


Bio. 5: 





very little in color or markings. The butterfly appears on the wing rather 
late in the summer, when it may frequently be seen hovering about willow 
bushes, on which the female usually deposits her eggs, that being the 
favorite food plant of the larva. 


The egg, which is well shown in fig. 6, is a very beautiful object; @ 
represents it highly magnified, while at ¢ it is shown of the natural size 
and in its usual position on a willow leaf. At done of the minute cells 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 47 








of the egg is shown still more highly magnified. Mr. C. V. Riley, who 

was the first to describe this egg, says that at first it is of a pale yellow 

-color, but that it soon becomes gray as the enclosed larva develops. The 
Fig. 6. 


z 
3 
—e 


Dp, 
Ca AT tas a 





eggs are usually deposited singly near the tip of the leaf, generally on the 
under side, although sometimes on the upper, and occasionally two or 
even three are placed together. 


In a few days the young larva appears. As it issues from the egg it 
measures only one-tenth of an inch long, has a large yellowish brown 
head, and a pale yellowish brown body, the latter with darker streaks and 
a few pale dots and warts, the warts having pale spines or bristles issuing 
from them. ‘The larva attains full growth in about one month from the 
time of hatching, when it appears as shown at a, fig.7. It is then about 
one inch and a quarter long, with a rather large head, which is flattened 
in front and divided by a central depressed line into two lobes, each of 

Fig, 7. 






















































































































































































































































































which is tipped with a green tubercle or short horn. ‘The head is of a 
pale green color, with two dull white lines down the front, and roughened 
‘with a number of small green ind greenish white tubercles. 


AS THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





The body above is of a deep, rich green color, with patches and 
streaks of dull white ; the second segment is smaller than the head, and 
thickly covered with whitish tubercles ; the third segment, which is dull 
whitish green, is raised considerably above the second, and has a flat 
ridge above with a long brownish horn on each side of it thickly covered 
with very short white and brown spines ; the fourth segment has a similar 
ridge, with a small tubercle on each side, each tipped with a bunch of 
short whitish spines. All the segments behind the fourth have two 
tubercles, one on each side, of varying size and in a line with the long 
horns on the third segment, each being covered with a cluster of whitish 
spines. The tubercles on seventh, eighth, tenth and eleventh segments. 
have a streak of white at their base, and each segment behind the fourth, 
excepting the ninth, has several smaller tubercles of a bright blue color. 
A large whitish patch covers nearly the whole of the ninth and parts of 
the eighth and tenth segments, and another of a similar character covers. 
the second, third and part of the fourth. A white stripe extends along 
each side, close to the under surface, from the fifth to the terminal seg- 
ments, in which is set a small cluster of whitish spines about the middle 
of each segment, from the sixth to tenth inclusive. On each side of the 
seventh, eighth and tenth segments is an elongated blackish spot, just 
above and behind the spiracles ; the latter are rather large, oval, and of a 
brownish black color. 


The under side is whitish green, with a central dull white stripe on the 
hinder segments ;_ the feet are brown, ringed with brownish black ; the 
prolegs pale greenish, faintly tipped with brown. 


The chrysalis, fig. 7, d, has a curious mixture of colors—brown, grey, 
flesh color and white—and is characterized by a remarkable, thin and 
almost circular projection sticking out from the middle of its back, which 
has been likened to a Roman nose. 


There are two broods of this insect during the year; the larve of the 
second brood scarcely attain half their growth when they hybernate, and 
complete their developement the following spring. On the approach of 
inclement weather the little caterpillar constructs a curious case in which 
to dwell, see ¢, fig. 7, which has been likened to the leaf of a miniature: 
pitcher plant ; having first, by means of silken cords, firmly secured the 
stem of the leaf it uses to the twig on which it grows. These cases are 
frequently found upon willow bushes, and also on the American poplar 
during the winter season. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 49. 


This butterfly is subject to the attack of several parasites ; one a tiny 
dark four-winged fly, infests the eggs ; another four-winged fly of a larger 
size, and a still larger two-winged fly attack the insect in its caterpillar 
state. 


MICRO - LEPIDOPTERA. 





BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY. 


Continued from Page 11, vol. vi. 
ERRATA.—Ante v. 5, p. 229, for Laruna read Laverna. 


DRYOPE, gev. 10V. 


Primaries lanceolate ; the costa enters the margin about the middle 
discal cell narrow and closed by a nearly straight discal nervure. The 
subcostal sends off a long curved branch from about its middle, and 
which attains the margin behind the end of the cell. From the end of 
the cell the subcostal bends somewhat obliquely upwards to the costal 
margin. The median is furcate from the end of the cell, both branches: 
being short and bending somewhat suddenly downwards to the dorsal 
margin, the inner branch being straight and continuous with the discal 
vein. The discal vein emits five branches, the superior going to the 
costal margin, the next furcate before the tip with one of the branches to 
each margin ; the three others go to the dorsal margin. 


Secondaries narrowly lanceolate, costal vein short, subcostal very 
long, simple, attaining the costal margin near the tip; cell unclosed ; 
median vein with three nearly equidistant branches. No discal vein but 
an independent branch which arises near the median and attains the 
dorsal margin before the apex. 


Head smooth ; vertex short and broad ; forehead obtusely rounded ; 
face smooth, narrow and much retreating ; tongue long, clothed at the 
base. No maxillary palpi; labial palpi short, porrected, densely scaled, 
almost tufted beneath ; no ocelli; eyes large, but partly concealed by 
some long scales pendant from the swollen basal joint of the antenne, 
which are about two thirds as long as the primaries, with the joints: 
closely set and microscopically pubescent. 


50 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





This genus must approach closely to Chauliodus, Treit., but I can not 
reconcile either Mr. Stainton’s or Dr. Clemens’ diagnosis of the genus 
with the characters of this insect as to the labial palpi and neuration, nor 
do I discern any tooth-like projections of scales along the inner margin 
of the primaries. In ornamentation, too, the insect evidently approaches 
C. canicinctella, Clem. closely, though evidently distinct from it. 


D. Murtfeldtella. N. sp. 


Head, palpi, thorax and basal third of the primaries pale yellowish, 
the remainder of the primaries being of the same general hue, but darker 
and more reddish, the line between the two shades distinct (that is, they 
-do not pass gradually into each other). 


Al. ex. % inch. Kentucky in June. Also, received from Miss Mary 
E. Murtfeldt, of St. Louis. 


In many specimens (which should, perhaps, be regarded as a distinct 
species) the colors are much more distinct, and the hue varies somewhat, 
the basal portion of the primaries having a pinkish cast and the remainder 
more of a brownish purple : some of the scales in the apical part of the 
wing tipped with hoary or pale yellow ; these specimens are also decidedly 
larger than the others. 


OENOE, gev. 10v. 


Head and face rough, the tuft projecting in front ; tongue short, con- 
cealed by the palpi; maxillary palpi long, folded; labial palpi drooping, 
the second joint one-third longer than the third, and with projecting 
bristles at the apex ; eyes globose ; no ocelli ; antennae nearly two-thirds 
as long as the wings, filiform ; the terminal joints with the scales arranged 
in whorls, and the basal joint with a few long hair-like scales depending 
over the eyes. 


Anterior wings lanceolate; discal cell closed by a straight discal 
nervure ; costal vein short ; the subcostal from before the middle sends a 
branch to the margin behind the middle ; another short branch behind 
the middle, from the end of the cell, is slightly bent upwards to the 
margin ; the discal vein emits two branches from a common point: the 
upper branch attains the costal margin, the second branch sends a branch 
to the dorsal margin and becomes furcate before the tip, delivering a 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Bf 





branch to the costal and one to the dorsal margin. The median divides 
into two branches at the end of the ceil, both branches going to the dorsal 
margin ; submedian simple, rather long. 


Posterior wings linear lanceolate; the costal margin is excised from 
about the middle to the tip; _ the costal vein attains the margin at the 
excision ; the subcostal is nearly straight and attains the margin at about 
the apical fourth ; discal cell unclosed ; a disco-central nervule is faintly 
indicated through the cell, becoming distinct in the apical half of the 
wing, when it sends two branches to the dorsal margin and attains the 
costal margin just before the apex; the median vein is coincident with 
the dorsal margin from the basal third to beyond the middle. 


This genus is nearly allied to Eudarcia, Diachorisia, but especially to 
Hybroma, Clem., differing, however, from all somewhat both in the trophi 
and neuration. 


O. hybromella. LN. sp. 


Palpi brown and silver gray intermixed ; head yellowish white ; 
antenne grayish fuscous, becoming more silvery towards the tip ;_ thorax 
and basal half of the forewings maroon brown, with darker brown scat- 
tered scales and small spots ; remainder of the wing white, with scattered 
brown scales which upon the costa and in the apical portion of the wing 
are condensed into loose, rather large, irregular blotches. Alar ex. ¥% 
inch. Kentucky. 


PERIMEDE, gev. 20V. 


This insect is allied to St/bosis, Clem., Laverna, &c. It was captured 
in my library, where it had most probably escaped from some of my 
breeding cages, but I can give no account of its larval history. 


No maxillary palpi; labial palpi slender, rather sparingly scaled, 
reaching the vertex, widely divergent ; antennz faintly pectinated, more 
than half as long as the wings ;_ basal joint suddenly clavate towards the 
tip. Head and face smooth, with the scales appressed; face rather 
broad. 


Wings long and narrow, with long ciliae. 


Primaries longer than the body, narrowly lanceolate. Discal cell 
closed, the discal vein giving off one branch to the posterior margin near 
the tip. The costal is very short. The subcostal sends two branches to 


52 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








the margin before the end of the cell, one from the end of it and one 
behind the cell, and attains the margin just before the tip. The median 
sends three branches to the dorsal margin. (Probably the discal branch 
above mentioned should more properly be considered the terminal portion 
of the median and the discal described as having no branches.) Sub- 
median simple. 


Secondaries linear lanceolate. The costal vein is very long and close 
to the margin ; the subcostal attains the tip, its basal half being obsolete. 
Discal cell unclosed ; median sub-dividing into four equidistant branches, 
the first of which attains the dorsal margin before the middle, and the last 
one not far from the tip. - 

Imago long, slender, and the single species described below has small 
raised tufts of scales upon the primaries. 


iP xerranscila.. IV. sp. 


Antennae grayish brown ; face and palpi pale grayish, tinged with 
purple ; primaries grayish brown, tinged with purple, with three small spots 
of raised black scales, the two first of which are margined behind and the 
third one before with pale ochreous ; one of these tufts is near the dorsal 
margin before the middle, one about the middle of the disc, and one at the 
end of it. Under surface and legs whitish, with four distinct dark brown 
spots on each side of the abdomen, and the joints of the legs gray 
brown. AZ. ex. nearly % inch. Kentucky. 


LIST OF COLEOPTERA OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MissOUa: 


BY S. V. SUMMERS, M. D., NEW ORLEANS, 


(Continued from Page 192, Vol. v.) 


EUAESTHETUS, Grav. BLeEDIus, Steph. 
americanus, £7. _ semiferrugineus, Lec. 

Oxyporus, Fab. troglodytes, £7. 
vittatus, Grav. pallipennis, Zr. 

Osorivus, Lar. fumatus, Lec. 


latipes, £7. nitidicollis, Lec. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


BLEDIUS, Steph. (continued) 
annularis, Lee. 
analis, Zee. 

OXYTELUuS, Grav. 
insignitus, Grav. 
sculptus, Grav. 
nitidulus, Grav. 

PLATYSTETHUS, JZanz. 
americanus, £7. 

“TROGOPHLOEUS, JAZann. 
morio, £7. 
insculptus, Faved. 

ANTHOPHAGUS, Grav. 
brunneus, Say. 


Ho.o.tepta, Pays. 
fossularis, Say. 
HIsTER, Lzvz1. 
binotatus, Zee. 
interruptus, Beauv. 
depurator, Say. 
abbreviatus, ad. 
americanus, Pays. 
bimaculatus, £27272. 
carolinus, Pay. 
lecontei, AZars. 
immunis, £7. 
foedatus, Lec. 
harrisu, Azrdy. 
sedecimstriatus, Say. 
PHELISTER, Mars. 
subrotundus, Jars. 
vernus, Jars. 
‘TRIBALUS, £7. 
americanus, Lec. 


D3 





Acipora, Steph. 
subcarinata, Zr. 
OLOPHRUM, £7. 
rotundicolle, Zr. 
emarginatum, £7. 
LATHRIMAEUM, £7. 
sordidum, £7. 
CoryPHIuM, Steph. 
notatum, Lee. 
GLYPToMA, £7. 
costale, 7. 
LIsPINus, £7. 
laevicauda, Lee. 


HISTERID£.. 

EPIERUS, £7. 
pulicarius, £7. 
regularis, Lec. 

Bacanlius, Le. 
punctiformis, JZars. 

DENDROPHILUS, Leach. 
punctulatus, Lec. 

PAROMALUS, £&r. 
affinis, Lec. 
bistriatus, £7. 
conjunctus, Lec. 

SAPRINUS, Leach. 
assimilis, £7. 
seminitens, Lec. 
patruelis, Lec. 
fraternus, Lec. 

AcriTus, Lee. 
politus, Lec. 
fimetarius, Lec. 
exiguus, Lec. 


SCAPHIDITID. 
SCAPHIDUIM, O/iv. 


piceum, J7Ze/s. 
4-guttatum, Say. 


54 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





SCAPHIDIIDA (continued). 


CypaRium, £7. Toxipium, Lee. 
flavipes, Lec. gammaroides, Lec. 
SCAPHISOMA, Leach. compressum, Zzmm. 
convexum, Say. 
suturale, Lec. 


TRIGBOPTERYGIDA:. 


TRICHOPTERYX, A7zrdby. 
haldemani, Lec. 


PHALACRIDA:. 


PHALACRUS, Paya. 
politus, JZe/s. 

OLIBRUS, £7. 
apicalis, Lec. 


CEercus, Lair. 


abdominalis, Zatr. 


Co.astus, £7. 
truncatus, Lec. 
morio, £7. 
semitectus, Zr. 

CARPOPHILUS, Leach. 
pallipennis, Lee. 


hemipterus, Steph. 


antiquus, AZe/s. 
luridus— 
ConorTe.us, £7. 
obscurus, £7. 
EPURAEA, £7. 
helvola, 7. 
vicina, Lec. 
NiTIDULA, Fad. 
bipustulata, Fad. 
ZICZAC, Say: 


OuipRus, Lr. (continued. ) 
nitidus, Lec. 
bicolor, Zr. 
pusillus, Lec. 


Nite LIDA:. 


PROMETOPIA, £7. 
sexmaculata, £7. 
OmosiTa, £7. 
colon, £7. 
PHENOLIA, £7. 
grossa £7. 
STELIDOTA, 72 
geminata, £7. 
octomaculata, Lec. 
AMPHICRossuUS, £7. 
ciliatus, /7. 
PaLLoDEs, £7. 
silaceus, £7. 
CRYPTARCHA, Shuck. 
ampla. 
Ips, Fad. 
fasciatus, Say. 
4-signatus, Say. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 55 





MONOTOMID 2“. 
BAcTRIDIUM, Lec. Monotoma, //ést. 
nanum, Lec. americanum, Aude. 


TROGOSITID:. 


NeEmosoma, Lazr. Trocosita, Oliv. 
cylindricum, Lec. mauritanica, Ol7z. 

TEMNOCHILA, Westw. corticalis, AZe/s. 
viridicyanea, Lec. dubia, AZe/s. 
virescens, £7. nana, Me/s. 

ALINDRIA. castanea, AZeé/s. 
cylindrica, £7. laticollis, Horn. 
teres, ec. bimaculata, JZeé/s. 

COLYDIID~. 

Diroma, £77. PROLYCTUS, 22mm. 
quadriguttata, Lec. exaratus, JZe/s. 

SyncHITA, Hellwig. CERYLON, Lazr. 
granulata, Say. unicolor, Lec. 
nigripennis, Lec. castaneum, Say. 


AULONIUM, £7. 
parallelipipedum, £7. 


A DISSERTATION ON NORTHERN BUTTERFLIES. 


BY WILLIAM COUPER, MONTREAL. 


(Continued from Page 37). 


The confinement of the genus Chzonobas to high latitudes affords an 
example regarding distribution of species. Their food being lichens 
peculiar only to the Alpine regions, must confine them within a limited 
range. Mr. Scudder, in his “ Revision of the hitherto known species of 
the genus Chionobas, of North America ”—Proceed. Ent. Soc. Philad., 
vol. 5, pp. 26-28—gives them three or four localities ; but these are either 
arctic, sub-arctic or Alpine. He places them also in Alpine districts—on 


56 THE CANADIAN yp OMOLOGIST. 


—_— 





high mountains in temperate latitudes in Europe and America. Mr. 
Scudder asks ‘‘what relations of structure do the species of these 
different localities and varying range of habitat bear to one another ?” 


Specific relations are just what we want to have elucidated, but it is 
difficult to obtain material for this work while butterflies of the genus 
Chionobas are confined to frigid, unaccessible localities. Mr. Scudder 
deserves the gratitude of entomologists for his able Revision of the 
Chionobas, and in defining the species known to occur in our Northern 
and Alpine regions. I may here remark that I did not see a species of 
this genus during my two visits to Anticosti, and I cannot account for 
their absence from the island. 


After returning from Labrador in 1867, I sent Mr. Scudder 9 speci- 
mens of a Pieris taken on the south coast of the Lower St. Lawrence, at 
Natashquan. His answer, dated Oct. 1st, 1867, is as follows: ‘Pzeris: 
‘“‘T am inclined to think this is P. frigida, Scudd., described from Upper 
‘¢ Labrador, but I cannot be positive without seeingsome ¢ ¢ from your 
“collection.” Ihadno ¢ & at that time, and therefore could not send 
them; but I took it for granted that the species was his Pieris frigida. 


I made a subsequent collection on the Island of Anticosti and 
Labrador, in 1872, and captured a number of the above Peeris at Fox 
Bay, as well as on thc south coast of Labrador. The specimens were 
distributed to my subscribers under the name of P. frigzda, according to 
Mr. Scudder’s determination. The gentlemen receiving the species (all 
reputed entomologists) did not doubt that it was anything else than 
Scudder’s P. /rigéda until my return from Anticosti this year. I am now 
informed by Mr. Grote that the Piers is not frigida, but Ganorts oleracea 
var. borealis. 


Now, I have before me Mr. Scudder’s paper in Proceed. Boston Soc. ; 
of Nat. Hist., vol. viii, Sept., 1861, in which I quote as follows : 


‘“* Pieris oleracea, Boisd. 

*“* Pontia oleracea, Harris. 

“* Pieris cruciferarum, Boisd. 

“ Pontia casta, Kirby. 

“The butterflies described by Harris, Boisduval and Kirby under the 
“above-mentioned names are one and the same insect. It is found 
‘inhabiting the northern and eastern portions of North America, reaching 
“rarely as far south as Pennsylvania, and extending eastward to Nova 


THE CANAI\,y ENTOMOLOGIST. 57 





“ Scotia, at least as far west as Lake Superior, while in the North it is 
“found as high as the Great Slave Lake in the Hudson Bay Company’s 
“territory, and even, according to. Kirby, to Latitude 65° N. on the 
‘¢ McKenzie River.” 


I have now the mortification of finding that my Anticosti specimen 
of what I claim to be a Preris is now Ganoris oleracea; but a var. to be 
called dorealis. Mr. Grote says that the species resembles /rigzda, but 
that the peculiar elongated wings of /rigzda are wanting. 


With a knowledge of the history of the Anticosti Pzeris or Ganoris, 
whichever it may be, I am prepared to state that the former does not 
agree with the habits of Pieris oleracea, which is double brooded in 
Canada and quadrupled in the south, while that of Anticosti has but one 
brood during the season. 


The egg of oleracea is pear-shaped or oval, of a yellow green color, and 
ribbed longitudinally with about fifteen sharp edged lines. The eggs are 
deposited singly, rarely more than one on a leaf, on the wwderside. The 
egg of the Anticosti Piers is not pear-shaped, but oblong, pointed at 
each end, flesh colored, smooth and without ribs. The insect never 
deposits eggs underneath the leaves, but on the upper surface of its food 
plant (Zurritis stricta), and I have counted six on a single leaf. The. 
-caterpiliar of the Anticosti Pers is also different from that of oleracea. 
It approaches the color of that of P. rape, but without dorsal or lateral 
stripe, and is pubescent. In fact, it is as different from o/eracea as the 
caterpillar of the latter is from rape. It occurs to me that the argument 
I have advanced regarding the Papilio of the Island applies also to this 
Anticosti Pieris. I find that after examining a number, with few excep- 
tions, the colors are constant ; and I cannot agree with Mr. Scudder that 
the upper surface is ‘supplied with obsolete spots similarly situated to 
“‘ those on the upper surface of P. rage of Europe.” 


It is possible that the Pieris oleracea of the south and west may be 
but races of this northern form. . Mr. Scudder says that ‘No possible 
‘step in the gradation from one extreme to the other is wanting, and both 
‘extremes are found equally among numerous examples from as widely 
‘‘ distant places as Massachusetts and the Great Slave Lake; although 
‘“‘the suite of specimens with which I have made my comparisons seems 
“to indicate that the paler forms are more commonly met with in the 
‘‘ more southern localities, and that more heavily marked ones are the 
“* characteristic forms of the north.” 


{ 
\ 
58 THE CANADIAN ET -OMOLOGISTY. 


Mr. Scudder, speaking of a white butterfly taken in Eastern Labrador,. 
says that it is very closely allied to, but distinct from P. oleracea. Ina 
note following the description of P. frigida, he adds: “It would be 
“exceedingly difficult to distinguish this species except by immediate 
‘comparison with both sexes of o/eracea ; the differences are more easily 
‘‘seen than described, although the extreme limits of variation of oleracea 
‘do by no means permit us to include within its boundaries this com- 
‘* paratively persistent form ; it is more heavily marked than any specimen 
“of oleracea which I have seen.” 


The Pieris which Mr. Grote has named Ganoris borealis is found along 
two hundred miles of sea-coast on Anticosti ; it is quite abundant on the 
north shore of the Gulf, terminating in a western direction in the neigh- 
borhood of Seven Islands. It occurs throughout the north, on the 
Labrador Islands, into the Straits of Belle Isle, and probably Newfound- 
land. Iam aware that P. oleracea occurs at Quebec, and it may extend 
on both sides of the St. Lawrence opposite the mouth of the River 
Saguenay; but it is not found below the latter river, towards the Gulf. 
It seems curious that Pieris frigida or Ganoris borealis should, like Papilio 
brevicauda, be confined to the north coast and islands of the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence, and that the caterpillar of the Anticosti Pzeris is differently 
marked and the habits of the butterfly contrary from that of oleracea. 
What is the object of the study of eggs and larvee of insects? Is it not 
for the purpose of determining the value of species? 


The object in claiming primitive source for some of the northern 
butterflies, arises mainly from the fact that in them we discover perman- 
ency in form and color, while their geographical range is limited in 
accordance with the distribution of their food plants. That species found 
scattered over defined circuits are generally tending towards the equator. 
That many of these are but figurative races removed from their original 
habitat, and have varied through the influence of food and climate. 


In this connection I quote an extract from Geographical Distribution 
of some Genera of Insects, by Francis Walker, F. L. S., Vol. iv, No. 10 
of Can. Ent.: “ In studying the fauna of a mountain it is most suitable 
‘“‘to begin with the top, and to trace it downward, where the agencies or 
“forms of life become successively more numerous and complicated in 
‘their mutual adaptations and limitations, all being as wheels which serve 
“to regulate the great living mechanism of which they are the parts. In 
“like manner, in noticing the faunas of the two primary mountains into: 


+ 
THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 59 


“‘which the earth is divisible, their summits being the poles and the 
‘“‘ equator their common base, it is advisable to begin with the arctic 
“species or with those which have ascended to the highest latitudes. The 
‘** difference in soil, in vegetation and in elevation facilitate or hinder the 
*“‘ migration and settlement of insects, and help to effect the variety of 
* distribution, which is one of the chief attractions in the aspects of 
‘* nature.” 


MONTREAL BRANCH OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
OF ONTARIO. 


This branch was organized November 11th, 1873. The following 
officers were elected for the ensuing year :—President, W. Couper; Vice 
President, M. Kollmar ; Secretary-Treasurer, F. B. Caulfield ; Council— 
G. J. Bowles, P. Knetzing, C. W. Pearson, W. Hibbins, jr. 

The meetings of the Society are held at the residence of the 


President, No. 67, Bonaventure Street, Montreal, on the first Wednesday 
evening in each month. 


ENTOMOLOGICAL COLLECTING TOUR. 


We would call especial attention to a notice of an Entomological 
collecting tour about to be undertaken by Dr. S. V. Summers, of New 
Orleans, La., which will be found on the outside page of cover of our 
magazine. This is one of the most extensive undertakings of the sort we 
have ever heard of, and is well worthy of the patronage of Entomologists. 
The number of specimens guaranteed is extremely liberal, and the returns 
will no doubt well repay those who invest in the proffered shares. We 
are duly authorized by Dr. Summers to receive monies for shares on his 
account, so that any of our readers who may prefer negotiating with us. 
will please communicate with our Secretary, Mr. J. H. McMechan. 


7 
60 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


TO OUR PATRONS. 


At a special meeting of the Council of the Entomological Society of 
Ontario, held on the roth of February, 1874, Mr. J. Williams, being about 
to remove to Montreal, tendered his resignation as Secretary-Treasurer, 
which was accepted with regret. Mr. J. H. McMechan having kindly 
consented to undertake the duties of the office, was unanimously elected 
as his successor. Our friends and correspondents will please bear this 
change in mind, and address all remittances and business communications 
to J. H, McMechan, Secretary-Treasurer, London, Ontario. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


PIERIS Rap#.—About the last of September, 1873, I netted the first 
Rape Butterfly that I have ever seen in this part of the country—town- 
ship of Dunn, county of Haldimand. It is a male butterfly, as described 
fig. 8, vol. 5, No. 3, CANADIAN ENTomoLocist.—F. C. L. 


VANESSA G. AaLpuM.—I have lately received from the north-west 
coast of British America a specimen of Vanessa G. album. 1 do not 
remember hearing of its being found so far from the Atlantic before—W- 
H. Epwarps. 


BOO NOTICES, 


Tilustrations of the Zygaenide and Bombycide of North America, by R. H. Stretch, San Francisco, 
California. Parts 8 and 9, with three eolored plates. 


The Cincinnati Quarterly Journal of Science, Vol. i, No. i, 8vo., pp. 96. 

Catalogue of the Phalaenide of California, No. 2, by A. S. Packard, jr., M. D., 8vo., pp. 40, with one 
photograph plate. From the Proceedings of the Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol xvi. 

Nature, to February 12, 1874. 

Science Gossip, February, 1874. 

Newman’s Entomologist, February, 1874. 

The Zoologist, February, 1874. 

Le Naturaliste Canadien, Fevrier, 1874, 

‘The Western Rural, Chicago, to Mareh 7, 1874. 

Prairie Farmer to March 7, 1874. 

Indiana Farmer to Feb. 28, ,1874. 

Canada Farmer, to March 2, 1874. 

Maine Farmer to Feb. 14, 1874. 


Che Canadwn Entomologist. 





VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., APRIL, 1874. No. 4 








NOTES ON THE LABYA AND PUPA. OF 
SAPERDA MOESTA, LEc. 


BY THE EDITOR. 


On the 25th. of March, 1873, I received from P. E. Bucke, Esq., P. 
O. Dep’t, Ottawa, a bundle of twigs of the Balm of Gilead tree (Populus 
balsamifera), containing larvee of moesta. ‘These larvee were very thickly 
set in the branches, in many places not more than an inch or two apart 
and situated chiefly at the base of the buds, where the presence of an 
occupant was indicated by a swelling in the branch, surmounted by a 
dark brown patch of partly decayed bark. The castings and debris of 
the food were of a light orange color, and were pushed forward, stuffing 
the swollen part. The whole length of the excavation made by each larva > 
did not usually exceed an inch, and so much of this towards the front 
was filled with debris, that the clear space left was very little larger than - 
its body. 


The body of the larva was nearly cylindrical, tapering a little posteri- 
orly, and about half an inch in length. 


Head very small, dark reddish brown in front, with a pale streak down 
the centre. Color pale behind ; jaws black. 


Body above deep yellow, with a glossy surface, sprinkled with very 
minute short yellow hairs, invisible without a lens. Second segment 
above and below a little deeper in color, and more horny looking than 
the other segments; interspaces between segments strongly indented. 
There was a depressed dorsal line not different in color from the rest of 
the body, but sunken, and on each side of it the projecting rings of the 
body were somewhat flattened. Spiracles pale brown, rather small. 
Terminal segment a little more hairy than the others. 


62 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








The under surface was similar in color to the upper. I was not able 
to detect any trace of feet, although a careful examination was made 
with a lens. 


No further observations on these larvae were made until May 2, when 
I expected to find them in the chrysalis state, but was surprised to find 
in the several cells I opened that no pupal enclosure was to be seen, but 
that the head, antennae and legs were fully developed, while the wings 
and wing cases were only partially so. The wing cases, which covered 
the membraneous wings, were not more than one-eighth of an inch long, 
and projected out over the sides, spreading almost free from the body. At 
their base they were yellowish and semi-transparent, while from about the 
middle to the base they were black and covered with the usual small 
granulations. The scutellum was indicated by a short black streak 
widening anteriorly, while behind this the body was of a dirty yellow 
color and soft, flabby consistence. This color and consistence prevailed 
below also, behind the base of the legs, while about and anterior to them 
the color was black. The insect could move its legs, but was very 
sluggish and did not seem disposed to move at all unless disturbed; at 
this stage it was incapable of walking. Several of the chambers, which 
had been opened with care, were closed end tied up with their occupants 
in them; these were examined again on the gth of May, when the abdo- 
men was found to have decreased in size and become uniformly dark, 
almost black below, with the surface roughened, but still yellow at the 
tip. Above there was a large black patch behind the scutellum, covering 
nearly one-third of the body, and another large black spot near the tip, 
covering the roth and rith segments, while the interspace between these 
two segments was of a dark greenish hue; the elytra had lengthened so 
far as to cover about two-thirds of the abdomen. ‘The beetle was more 
active now, and able to walk, although with difficulty. 


On the 16th of May the wing cases of one were found of full length, 
but not fully expanded so as to cover the body, while in another case they 
were fully developed. The twigs containing these insects had been 
allowed to remain in a dry room without any means being taken to keep 
them moist, hence they had become quite dry and brittle. On the 24th 
of May a fresh bundle of twigs was received from Mr. Bucke, and in 
these, while the greater number appeared to have been eaten by wood- 
peckers, some five or six specimens were found in a state of chrysalis 
one cell was occupied by the pupa of some parasite. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 63 





The chrysalis was nearly half an inch long. Body semi-transparent ; 
color uniform pale yellow, excepting the eyes and enclosed mandibles, 
which were black ; the knee joints were faintly tipped with brown, and a 
faint brown line down each side of the scutellum. All the parts of the 
insect were plainly visible through the pupa case. The wings were very 
small and diverged to each side of the scutellum in a similar manner to 
that described on the 2nd of May. 


On the 29th of May two of these which had been seen as pupae on 
the 24th, had become perfect beetles ; another had its wing cases green, 
but its abdomen was yellow and soft; two others were still unchanged 
pupae. Early in June all were perfected, the beetles having escaped from 
their enclosures by gnawing a neat round hole through the twig, just large 
enough to allow of the passage of the body. 


Possibly the insects I examined on the znd of May might have 
already passed through their pupa stage, and their subsequent slow 
developement have been due to the altered condition of the twigs con- 
taining them, owing to the dry atmosphere in which they were kept. 


OBSERVATIONS ON FORMICA FLAVA, AND INFERENCES 
DEDUCTED THEREFROM. 


BY THCMAS G. GENTRY, GERMANTOWN, PA. 


During the latter part of the month of May, of the spring of 1873, 
while reclining upon the ground beneath the shade of a tree growing on 
the outskirts of a thicket, the sun at the time beaming in all its glory and 
splendor overhead, my attention was suddenly arrested by the activity 
and excitement presented by a nest of the ordinary yellow ant, Jormuca 

flava. Scattered promiscously upon the earth before me were numberless 
larvae in various stages of developement, and not a few of immobile 
pupae, brought up from their subterranean domiciles by their ever active 
and thoughtful nurses to receive the life-sustaining benefits of the sun- 
light, while here and there were a dozen or more of ants that had but 
recently escaped from the prison-houses in which they had been confined 
—frail, to be sure, and with a pallid, death-like appearance, in conse- 


64 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








quence of their long imprisonment, basking in the warmth of the sun to: 
dry their bodies and to give color and tone to their systems, preparatory 
to entering upon the duties of the formicarium. 


The full-grown neuters were the very pictures of restlessness. Con- 
sternation was evidently written upon their looks, if I may be permitted 
so to speak, and clearly evidenced in their hasty and dubious movements. 
The ova, larvae and pupae were being carried away to places of security 
beneath the ground, or hustled away to the neighboring grasses, in short,. 
wherever their nurses could find safe and comfortable quarters for them. 


Looking around me to find the cause of all this turmoil, my eyes soon 
rested upon two or three individuals of Sormica subterranea, Lat. which. 
had intruded their unbidden presence into this peaceful and _ hitherto: 
happy family. There is no doubt that these ruthless invaders of this. 
flourishing oasis of ant-life, were bent upon plunder or slaughter. 


If pillage was their motive, these giants no doubt soon learned that 
if their weaker, more distant kin were unable to cope with them in 
strength, they could assuredly make up for its loss in stratagem, sagacity 
and numbers. 


Not daring to attack their more powerful neighbors, after having 
sheltered the more tender, and being unable to defend their comrades 
who had just attained perfection and who were necessarily impotent, or 
to carry them to places of safety in view of their weight, in order to 
defeat the plans of the foe they set to work and destroyed those upon 
which but a few days before they had lavished the most endearing. 
attentions. 


While the major part of the workers were engaged in looking after the 
wants of the immature, and manifesting a readiness to provide for their 
further safety, should necessity demand it, a few were observed running 
about seizing in their mandibles thc newly developed, not to bear them 
beyond the reach of danger, as was at first supposed, but to save them a 
life of servitude mayhap, at any rate to keep them from falling a living 
prey to the rapacity of the enemy. 


Knowing by experience the sympathy and affection which the nurses 
ever bear towards these frail and tender objects of their care, this act of 
inhumanity, so to speak, struck me as peculiarly novel and astonishing. 
Prompted by curiosity to know the nature of the wounds inflicted, I 
raised a still struggling being up, and having placed it upon the palm of 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 





my hand, made a careful examination of it by the aid of a small pocket 
microscope of twenty diameters. On the superior and inferior aspects of 
the abdomen, between the second and third semites, were observed two 
deep wounds which met each other in the interior, the mandibles having 
penetrated completely. 

Several instances of the kind occurred. It cannot be assumed that 
these wounds were purely accidental. It might be possible that accidents 
of the kind would occur once in a long time through inexperience, but to 
argue that insects so habituated to such manipulations as the neuters 
assuredly are, would be likely to make such mistakes, when it is known 
—especially in the case of larvae, whose integuments and tissues are so 
delicate and yielding by reason of early age, that the greatest caution is 
necessary, is, in the estimation of the writer, perfectly preposterous. 
Admitting, for the sake of argument, an occasional occurrence of the 
kind, a successive repetition of it could hardly be justified. But on the 
ground that a purpose is thereby subserved, there is no doubt the object 
had in view is justified by the means employed for its accomplishment. 


What this purpose is the writer will endeavor to show in a few care- 
fully drawn opinions. It is a well established fact, as an abundance of 
well authenticated instances could be cited by the writer confirmatory 
thereof, that many animals of many families and orders, both in the 
domesticated and undomesticated conditions, are wont to destroy their 
disabled and wounded comrades. In wild animals, in many cases, the 
destruction seems to be warranted in order to preserve the herd or pack 
from the close pursuit of enemies. Mr. Charles Darwin, in his work 
entitled ‘Origin of Species,’ if I mistake not the work, remarks that 
“Instinct or reason may suggest the expelling an injured companion, lest 
“beasts of prey, including man, should be tempted to follow the troop.” 


In tame animals, of which some well authenticated examples are 
recorded in the case of the hog, cow, &c., the habit is undoubtedly one 
which affords a beautiful and forcible illustration of what is known as the 
‘survival of instincts.” 

Audubon, in writing of the Wild Turkey (A/eleagris gallopavo), which 
is found in great abundance in the far West, observes substantially that 
the old males in their marches often destroy the young by picking the 
head, but do not venture to disturb the full-grown and vigorous. The 
feeble and immature being an encumbrance to the party, it is obvious 
that their destruction would tend to the latter’s preservation. Should 


66 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








they be actuated by sympathetic and affectionate emotions, it is evident 
that the constant watchfulness and attention which the weak would 
demand, would necessarily retard the rate of their movement, and doubt- 
less lead to the destruction of the entire flock. Here it is plain to the 
most obtuse intellect that instinct or reason, the latter, as I conceive it to- 
be, operates for individual and family good. 


Granting that instinct or reason does sometimes act for individual and 
family preservation, in the manner described, the writer does not feel at 
liberty to admit that in every case that may arise in which the weak and 
disabled are sacrificed, that it is done for the material benefit of the 
physically able and robust. How the destruction of the weak and newly 
developed ant can result in good to the colony, it is difficult to conceive 
in view of the fact that not the slightest effort to escape the danger by 
continued flight is undertaken, the sole object being to hide the immature 
away from impending danger, either in the natural galleries or underneath 
adjoining objects. <A vigilant and powerful enemy, under these circum- 
stances, would have very little difficulty in carrying out the very spirit and 
letter of his programme. 


There seems to ve one of two theories for the writer’s selection. 
wherewith to account for in anything like a satisfactory manner, this 
strange and abnormal habit upon the part of an insect which has been 
proverbially distinguished for its kind and affectionate disposition towards: 
the tender beings committed to its trust—either to attribute it to an utter 
unwillingness and repugnance to witness its Arofeges made the servants of 
a hostile race, or to the survival and exhibition of a habit which was in 
vogue far back in the buried ages of the past, when this species of 
Formica was migratory or of a roving disposition. 


That a feeling of utter repugnance sometimes takes possession of the 
nature of some forms of animal existence, when the objects of their 
solicitude and care are or are about to be reduced to a state of confine- 
ment, and impels them to a course of action which bears the semblance 
of inhumanity, will be patent to all from what follows. 


In the summer of 1873 a friend of the writer’s having procured a pair 
of the young of Zurdus migratorius, Linn., placed them in a cage and 
hung the latter on a tree, close to his dwelling, where the parent birds: 
could still administer to their temporal well-being. All went well for 
several days, and the parents, who had busied themselves in the intervals. 
of feeding in their attempts to relieve their offspring, finding all their 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 67 





efforts fruitless and ineffectual, flew away, but returned shortly afterwards 
bearing in their bills objects of a green color, most probably worms of 
poisonous qualities, fed them to the young and left, never to return. A 
few minutes afterwards the latter were dead. 


It is evident from the above that the parents, finding their efforts of 
no avail to relieve their young from their irmprisoned condition, sought 
this way of saving them from a life in preference to which death would 
assuredly prove desirable. Other instances might be cited, but I forbear 
Enough has been written to sustain the writer’s position, that in the case 
of Formica flava an unwillingness to suffer any of the colony to undergo 
a life of slavery was the controlling motive in the sacrifice alluded to. 


If it could be shown in the above cases that any material good was 
subserved thereby, or that any advantage was acquired, the author would 
be free to admit that Mr. Darwin’s theory to account for the destruction 
was the only one competent to explain all the known facts. But from 
the foregoing statements it is evident that a desire to save their offspring 
and profeges, on the part of parents and guardians, from the condition of 
involuntary servitude, no doubt is equally as important. 


ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 


14. THE COMMON COCKCHAFE R—Latchnosterna quercina, Knoch. 





BY GAMBLE GEDDES, LONDON, ONT. 
~ 

Our readers will recognize at once in figure 8, (Lachnosterna 
guercina) the common May-bug in its different stages. 1 shows the 
chrysalis ; 2 the larva, and 3 and 4 the perfect insect. It appears in some 
years in vast numbers, and is greatly complained of, whilst in other 
seasons it 1s comparatively rare. This depends chiefly on the long 
duration of its developement. The insect flies with a humming noise, so 
that one is aware of its approach at the distance of some yards. It 
appears principally in May and the beginning of June, and feeds upon 


68 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIS'. 








several trees, amongst which may be mentioned particularly the cherry 
tree, as well as the oak, beech, maple and poplar. It is entirely nocturnal 
in its habits, and during the day time is sluggish and seeks shelter under 
boards and logs. 

The perfect insect is of a chestnut brown color on the back, with a 


smooth and shining coat. Underneath it is of a lighter shade of brown. 
Fig. 8. 


rine 
Meas 
At 
nae 
Dui eat Way 





After the pairing of the sexes the male soon dies, and the female burrows 
into the earth about nine or twelve inches, where she deposits 60 or 70 
eggs, after which she comes out and lives but a very short time. These 
eggs are soon hatched into small white grubs, which commence almost 
immediately to feed upon the rootlets of plants. As they grow the larvae 
become great enemies of the agriculturist. | When they are hatched they 
are just in time for the tender vegetation of early summer. 

In appearance the larva is of a white color, with a light brown head, 
and when full grown is about the size of one’s little finger. They are 
constantly turning up*when digging and gardening are going on, and crows 
and other birds will often follow the plow to pick up the white grub, to 
which they are very partial. 

At the end of the third summer the grubs stop feeding and bury 
themselves deep in the ground, where, in an oval cavity, the change to the 
chrysalis state is accomplished. 

In this condition it remains for a variable period, and then appears 
the perfect insect, which works its way up by degrees to the surface of the 
ground. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 69 








In the Report of the Entomological Society for 1872, Mr. Saunders 
says, in reference to this insect: 


“ Every one must be familiar with the May-beetle, or May-bug, as it 
is sometimes called, a buzzing beetle, with a rapid but wild and erratic 
flight, which comes thumping against the windows of lighted rooms at 
night, in May and early in June: and when the windows are open it 
dashes in without a moment’s consideration, bumping itself against walls 
and ceilings, occasionally dropping to the floor, then rising again sud- 
denly, it sometimes lands unexpectedly against one’s face or neck, or it 
may be, on one’s head, where its sharp claws get entangled in the hair 
and its further progress is stayed until a forcible renioval takes place. At 
such times it is quite a terror to those whose nerves are weak. 


“Although thousands of these summer’s evening tormentors are 
yearly, yea, nightly trodden to death during their brief season, yet 
thousands of others rise to supply their places, and sometimes they are 
reinforced by armies of tens of thousands. ‘Thenit is that oftimes serious 
damage is done to trees, whose foliage they consume, their powerful and 
horny jaws being admirably adapted for cutting and grinding the leaves. 
Cherry trees are frequently injured in this way, indeed these beetles are 
not at all particularas to what they eat; the oak, the Lombardy poplar 
and many other kinds of trees are just as readily attacked, if in their 
way.” 


ON MR. COUPER’S COLLECTIONS OF LEPIDOPTERA MADE 
ON ANTICOSTI ISLAND IN 1873. 


BY AUG. R. GROTE, 


Curator of Articulata, Buffalo Soc. of Natural Sciences. 


The butterflies collected by Mr. Couper have been already enumerated 
in the “ Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences.” They 
were: Vanessa atalanta, Argynnts atlantis, Phyciodes tharos, Glaucopsyche 
Couperi, Cyaniris lucia, Ganoris oleracea var. borealis, Papilio brevicauda 
and Cyclopides mandan. The moths, as far as the Geometridz, have been 
determined by me and were as follows: 


70 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





Alypia Langtoni, Couper. 

Fourteen ~ and two @ specimens received. The males are eight- 
spotted, the females six-spotted. ‘The male is correctly described by Mr. 
Couper in the Caz. at. It is only with difficulty thatit can be separated 
from the male A. octomaculata. ; It appears to differ by the parallelism of 
the inferior edge of the basal sulphur spot on the fore wings with the 
margin of the wing; in ocfomacula‘a this spot is oblique. Neither the 
vine nor Ampelopsis grow on Anticosti, and Mr. Couper states that he 
has observed 4. Langtonii ovipositing on the stems of grasses. I have 
formerly determined a specimen of A. Langtonii ¢, from Anticosti, sent 
me by Mr. Strecker, with other species of the genus, as A. S-macudata. 


Haemorrhagia uniformis, (G. & R.) 
Fyles chamaenerii, (Harris.) 

Lethia gordius, (Cramer.) 
Trochilium, sp. 


Ten specimens of a species that I do not venture to describe om 
account of the number of unidentified descriptions extant in the group. 


Platarctia parthenos, (Harris.) 


As early as 1864, I drew attention to the probability of Mr. Moesch- 
ler’s Arctia borealis being identical with the present species, as also to the 
fact that Mr. Moeschler’s papers on the Lepidoptera of Labrador had 
been written without reference to Kirby or the writings of American 
Entomologists. It is unfortunate for Mr. Moeschler that Mr. Strecker, 
whose acquaintance with entomological literature is so slight, should have 
been selected to make an unnecessary correction. Until Dr. Packard’s 
later separation of the two species is properly contradicted, I do not 
understand why they should not be separately cited in & catalogue. Mr. 
Couper collected a single female specimen in fine condition, which seems 
only to differ from Mr. Moeschler’s figure by the collar not being all red 
as Mr. M. paints it, aside from the sexual characters and the greater size. 
But Mr. Moeschler’s description accords perfectly with my specimen 
where his figure contradicts it. So far as I can see, my specimen in no 
way essentially contradicts Harris’ original description and figure in 
Agassiz’s ‘Lake Superior.” It is evident, however, that Dr. Packard 
separates an allied species from P. parthenos, as the borealis of Moeschler. 
Without having seen the material upon which Dr. Packard’s two 
descriptions are based, it is useless for me to express. any further 
opinion. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. TI 





Arctia virguncula, (Kirby.) 

A specimen in fine condition. Except that the figures are smaller,. 
Mr. Moeschler’s representation of sfeciosa does not seem to me to differ. 
I again repeat, provoked by Mr. Strecker’s ill-advised remarks, that I 
called the attention of American Entomologists to this fact in 1864, and 
it seems to me that to be now charged with an ignorance of Mr. Moes- 
chler’s errors, when they were published by me ten years ago, is very 
absurd and shows merely that Mr. Strecker’s knowledge of American 
Entomological works is not greater than that of Mr. H. B. Moeschler. 


Phragmatobia rubricosa, (Harris.) 
Habrosyne scripta, (Gosse.) 
_ Thyatira pudens, Guenee. 


The single specimen is rubbed and appears to have the spots on the 
forewings more greyish than usual. It expands 48 m. m. 

Agrotis gilvipennis, Grote. 

As yet the only described species of the genus from America with 
yellow hind wings. Specimens sent to Prof. Zeller for examination were 
kindly determined by him as allied to the Siberian A. chardinyz. 


Agrotis confiua, (Tr.) 


I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Geo. Norman for some frag- 
ments of Scotch specimens of this species, and although my comparisons 
are not as absolute as I could wish, I feel little doubt that the twenty-four 
specimens collected by Mr. Couper belong to this species, which is 
apparently not well known on the Continent. Two Swiss specimens in 
the collection of the Buffalo Society offer but unimportant differences, 
while the species seems to vary in the intensity of the color 
and distinctness of the markings. _ I have described this species and the 
preceding in the Report of the Peabody Academy, and I am under 
obligation to Mr. Geo. Norman for his assistance in this very interesting 
determination. According to Dr. Staudinger, the species occurs in Ice- 
land, where it is subject to great variation in color. 


Eurots occulta, Hubner. 


The American specimens are generally more blackish than those from 
the Continent of Europe, but seem to agree with the form taken in Scot- 
land and the north of England. Mr. Lintner’s Albany specimen was 
more purplish and stouter, and like German specimens in the collection. 
before me. 


72 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








LTyppa xylinoites, Guenee. 

One specimen. 

Nephelodes violans, Guenee. 

One specimen. 

FHleliophila commoides, (Guenee). 

The three specimens are less reddish on the primaries than my 
material from the Middle States, with the dotted t. p. very distinct, but 
do not seem to differ specifically. 

Pyrophila pyramidoides, (Guenee). 

One specimen. 

Plusia 8-signata, Sanborn. 

One specimen. 

Plusia simplex, Guenee. 

Several specimens. 

Plusia bimacilata, Stephens. 

This is Guenee’s P. u-brevis; Mr. Couper’s material is in fine con- 
dition. 

Plusta mappa, G. & R. 

One specimen. 

Cucullia intermedia, Speyer ? 

One specimen, much rubbed. 

Tarache erastrioides, (Guenee). 

Drasteria erichio, Guenee. 

Two specimens. 


MICRO - LEPIDOPTERA. 





BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY. 


Continued from Page 52, vol, vi. 
CHYSOPELEIA, 2é/1. 710U. 


This genus, tbough closely allied to St/bosis, Walshia, Elachista, &c., 
differs from them somewhat as to the palpi, and yet more as to the 
neuration of the wings. In the neuration it is near S#/bosis, but in many 
respects is nearer [Valshia. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 73- 





Anterior wings lanceolate, caudate. The costa attains the margin 
about the middle; discal cell long, narrow, and closed by a slightly 
oblique discal vein; the costal vein is furcate just before the apex, 
delivering one of the branches above and one below it; it also sends 
another branch to the costal margin from behind the cell, one at the end 
of the cell, and two before it; the discal vein sends a vein to the hinder 
margin from a point near the median, which passes straight to the hind 
margin, and just before the discal vein sends a branch to the hind margin 
also ; the submedian is furcate at the base. 

Posterior wings linear lanceolate. Costal vein obsolete ; the subcostal 
proceeds straight to the apex, sending a single branch to the Azzd margin 
just before the apex; the median is slightly sigmoid, attaining the hind 
margin at about the apical one-fourth, and delivering to it three other 
branches, the first about the middle. Submedian short. 

Wings convoluted in repose, with tufts of raised scales on the anterior 
ones, and the tips bent under. ead and face smooth, with appressed 
scales ; vertex broader than long ; face much receding and very narrow; 
eyes small; antennz sub-pectinate, a little more than half as long as the 
wings ; palpi drooping, of moderate size; no visible maxillary palpi; 
tongue rather short, scaled; terminal joint of labial palpi acute, and 
about two-thirds as long as the second, which is a little enlarged at its 
apex. 

It is not a typical Laruna, and yet, possibly, ought not to be separated 
from it. But I place Stc/bosis, Clem., as my precedent, 


C. purpuriella. LV. sp. 

Very dark purplish blue, almost black, with an indistinct confused 
oblique yellowish fascia about the apical fourth. The tufts are black or 
very dark brown; one is placed within the dorsal margin, at about the 
basal one-fourth, opposite the space between two others placed opposite 
to each other, about the middle, and a fourth at about the apical fourth 
of the wing, also opposite the space between the second and third. The 
tufts are arranged thus: -'- Alar ex., Y% inch. Kentucky. Larva 
unknown. 

AEAEA, ge7l. 110U. 
Allied to Chrysopelia, Stilbosis, &c. 
Primaries lanceolate, tufted ; discal cell narrow and rather acutely 
closed ; the costal vein is short and close to the margin ; the subcostal 
gives off three branches beyond the middle, and a fourth one from the 


V4 "THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








end of the eell, and has a common origin with the apical branch, which 
is bifid close to the apex. ‘The median divides into three branches from 
the apical part of the cell (the submedian is furcate at the base ?) 


Secondaries very narrowly lanceolate. The costal attains the margin 
about the basal fourth, and from thence to the tip the margin is excised ; 
the subcostal is almost obsolete towards the base and_ passes straight to 
the tip; discal cell unclosed; the median divides into three? brenches 
(or into two? with an independent discal branch arising so close to them 
that I have not been able to determine certainly whether it is connected 
with them or not). 


Head smooth with appressed scales ; vertex wider than long ; antennz 
simple, scarcely more than half so long as the wings, with a somewhat 
elongate basal joint. No visible maxillary palpi; labial palpi long and 
slender, over-arching the vertex ;_ terminal joint about two-thirds as long 
as the second. ‘Tongue moderate, densely scaled towards the base. 


A. ostryeedla. iN. sp. 


Face, palpi, legs and under surface of the body pale or hoary gray 
with a.faint bluish tinge. Vertex, antennae, thorax and primaries dark 
steel gray, with a blue or purplish tinge. ‘The basal portion of the dorsal 
margin of the primaries pale gray, with many of the scales tipped with 
hoary ; behind this lighter portion of the dorsal margin is a rather large 
raised tuft of blackish or bluish brown scales. An oblique pale gray or 
whitish fascia crosses about the middle of the wing, being widest and 
farthest from the base on the dorsal margin, and being margined behind 
by two small dark tufts of raised scales. About the apical third of the 
wing is asecond fascia of the same hue with the first, and parallel to it, 
with a small dark tuft of raised scales on its anterior margin and two 
others on its posterior margin, and in the apical part of the wing, on the 
dorsal and costal margins and at the apex, three or four other minute 
tufts of the same hue. ‘The apical part of the wing and ciliae are 
sprinkled with hoary or snow-white, many of the scales being tipped with 
that color. AZ. ex. scarcely 4% inch. Kentucky. 


The larva mines the leaves of the Ironwood (Ostrya virginica). I 
have occasionally, though very rarely, found a single specimen of the mine 
in June and July, but in August, September and October nearly every 
leaf upon the trees will have its mine, and many leaves will contain 
several. ‘The larva is yellowish white, with the mouth ferruginous, and 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 75 





two small brownish spots on top of each of the next three segments after 
the head, and is nearly cylindrical. It is exceedingly difficult to rear the 
imago, mainly, I think, because the Osfrya leaves dry up so. quickly, and 
the larva will seldom make a new mine after leaving an old one, though I 
have sometimes known it to do so. It leaves the mine to pupate in a 
small whitish ovoid cocoon among the leaves on the ground. The mine 
isa singular one. In the natural way it begins at the junction of a vein 
and the midrib, and extends along the midrib to the next vein ; there the 
parenchyma is taken out between the two veins and with the frass a little 
tube is constructed along the midrib, and from the mouth of the tube to 
the edge of the leaf two walls of frass are constructed, between which the 
larva, when disturbed, retreats into its tube. In the breeding cage, when 
the leaves are bent or the larva is crowded, it will sometimes vary the 
form of its mine, or even form a new one, but I doubtif ina state of 
nature it ever passes beyond the midrib or the two veins. From probably 
three hundred mines which I have gathered, I have not succeeded in 
raising half a dozen insects, and Dr. Clemens does not seem to have met 
with better success, for he does not seem to have been acquainted with 
the imago, though he mentions the mine and larva in his letter to Mr. 
Stainton of Oct. roth, 1859, which is published with an excellent figure 
of the mined leaf in Mr. Stainton’s edition of the Clemens Papers, page 
a5 
THEISOA, geil. 700. 


Maxillary palpi microscopic; labial palpi ascending above the vertex 
4a little longer than in E/achista). Antennae simple, more than half as 
long as the wings. Head and face smooth. 


Primaries lanceolate ovate ; the costal attains the margin just before 
the middle. Discal cell very narrow, and closed by a very short discal 
nervule ; the subcostal sends a branch to the margin from before the 
middle, another from near the end of the cell, and then is deflexed to 
meet the discal vein, beyond which it sends another branch to the costal 
margin and there becomes furcate before the tip, delivering a short branch 
‘to each margin near the tip. The discal vein is short, straight, a little 
oblique, and without branches. The median vein gives off to the dorsal 
margin a single branch beyond the middle, and becomes furcate just 
beyond the end of the cell. The submedian is furcate at the base. 


Posterior wings linear lanceolate. ‘The costa slightly excised from the 
middle to the tip ; the costal vein is near the margin, which it attains at 


76 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





—_—_— 


the excision; the subcostal passes nearly straight to the apex, its basal 
half being obsolete; it gives off no branches. Cell unclosed ; the 
median sends a.branch to the dorsal margin about the basal fourth, and 
becomes furcate about the apical third. Wings horizontal in repose. 


Ciliae of both wings moderately long. The neuration of the primaries. 
is very nearly the same with that of the next described genus, Phzlonome, 
but is still nearer to //achista, from which, however, this species differs in 
having the wings horizontal in repose, and the antennae longer and more 


pointed. 


T. bifasciella. iN. sp. 

Palpi silvery white; face white, tinged with golden yellow, which 
deepens towards the vertex, where it becomes pale ochreous; antennae 
with alternate annulations of white and dark brown; thorax and basal 
third of the primaries pale saffron, slightly suffused with fuscous; at the 
basal third of the primaries is a silvery white fascia dark margined 
internally, and thence to the tip the wing is pale saffron yellow, suffused 
with fuscous and white and becoming darker towards the apex; at the 
apical third is a second white fascia, which is frequently very indistinct 
or even obsolete, except upon the costa, where it is oblique, distinct and 
strongly dark margined internally, or rather with a dusky spot on the costa 
before it. Cuiliae dusky yellowish. AZ ex. nearly % inch. Kentucky in 
May. Larva unknown. 


ELACHISTA. 


Lt. praematurella ? Clem. 


This species belongs to the sub-group containing £. wnigrela of 
Europe. Possibly it may prove to be one of the European species. I 
am not absolutely certain that my captured specimens belong to 
praematurella, as I have not seen any of Dr. Clemens’ specimens, and do. 
not, indeed, know that there are any extant. I do not know its food 
plant, though from the frequency with which | have found its corpse-like 
pupa on fallen leaves in “blue grass” pastures, I suspect that it mines 
that species (Poa pratensis), and this suspicion is strengthened by the 
fact that other species of the same group mine plants of the same genus 
in Europe. Dr. Clemens was not acquainted with the food plant of 
praematurella. In my specimens the costal and dorsal spots are opposite 
as Dr. Clemens describes Araematurella, but the fascia is a little oblique, 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. "7 


being a little nearer to the base on the costal than on the dorsal margin, 
and the wing before the fascia has a grayish hue, occasioned by minute 
white dusting, and Dr. Clemens does not mention these particulars in 
praematurela; but a more decided difference is that in praematurela the 
fascia is ‘‘ just behind the middle,” whilst in this species it is just before 
it. My specimens are near &. gregsoni, as figured by Mr. Stainton, but 
have less white at the apex. But the species of this group are very 
difficult to distinguish without comparison of bred specimens, and I have 
not thought it necessary to separate my specimens from fraematurella. It 
is the only true Z/achista that I have thus far met with here, though some 
of the immediately preceding genera approach this genus closely. Like 
pracmaturedla, my specimens appear early in April. 


BOOKS Sec EIVED. 


The first number of “ The Cincinnatti Quarterly Journal of Science,” 
published in January, came to hand in due season. It is a well got up 
octavo serial of 96 pages ; editor and proprietor, S. A. Miller, Cincinnatti, 
Ohio ; price, three dollars per year. Among the more interesting original 
papers contained in this number we notice one by our esteemed friend 
and contributor, V. T. Chambers, of Covington, Ky., on Fresh Water 
Entomostraca, and among the selected articles, ‘‘ Facts in the Physiology 
of Spiders and Insects,” and ‘‘ Movements of Insects on Dry, Polished 
and Vertical Surfaces,” both by John Blackwell, from the Jour. and Pro. 
of the Linnean Society. In addition to these there are a number of 
interesting original and selected papers on Geology, Botany, Zoology, &c. 
We sincerely wish this new journal success. 


Illustrations of the Zygzenide and Bombycide of North America, by 
Richard H. Stretch, San Francisco, vol. 1, parts 8 and 9. These two 
parts issued together complete the first volume of Mr. Stretch’s excellent 
work on the Zygeenide and Bombycide. ‘These latter parts contain three 
colored plates, two of moths, illustrating 29 species, and one of larvae, 
containing 11 species. The whole volume consists of 242 pages octavo 
of letter-press, with ten well finished colored plates, on each of which a 
number of species are faithfully delineated. In this work—in addition to 


78 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





the author’s own material—are brought together a large number of facts and 
details hitherto scattered throughout the various scientific journals and 
publications, relating to the members of this interesting family. We hope 
Mr. Stretch will receive such encouragement from Entomologists as will 
reward him for his valued labors in this department, and stimulate him to: 
further efforts. 


Catalogue of the Phalaenidz of California, No. 2, by A. S. Packard,. 
jr., M. D. This is an octavo pamphlet of 40 pages, with one photograph 
plate, illustrating 24 new species, detailed descriptions of which are given 
in the accompanying letter-press, together with many other interesting. 
facts relating to other Californian species. 


EDITORIAL SUMMARY. 


MR. RILEY RECEIVES A HANDSOME TESTIMONIAL. 


The following correspondence explains itself: 


AGENCE CONSULAIRE DE FRANCE A ST. LOUIS, | 
Sr. scours, Mo... Fup.23, 1674. j 


Prof. Chas. V. Riley, State Entomologist, St. Louis, Mo. : 


Dear Sir.—I have the honor to inform you that his excellency, the 
Minister of Foreign Affairs, has forwarded to me through the Consulate 
of New Orleans, the gold medal awarded to you by the Minister of 
Agriculture and Commerce, of France, in appreciation of discoveries in 
economic entomology, and especially of services rendered to French 
grape culture. 


I congratulate you sincerely on this well deserved compliment. _ It is. 
a proof that your talents and labors have been recognized by very high 
and competent judges. 
Accept my assurance of the high regard with which I am, yours. 
respectfully, EMILE KARST, 
Agent Consulaire de France. 


The medal is of gold, very heavy and handsomely finished. _ It is 
round, probabiy an inch and a half in diameter, and bears upon its face 
the head of the Goddess of Liberty, in bas-relief, with the words : 
“Republique Francaise.” Upon the reverse is : 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 79 





“Mr. Riley, a St. Louis, Missouri, Services Rendus a La Viticulture 
Francaise, 1873,” encircled by “ Ministere de l’Agriculture et du 
Commerce.” 

The following is Mr. Riley’s acknowledgement : 

ST. Louis, FEB. 23, 1874. 
Emile Karst, Agent Consulaire de France : 

My Dear Sir.—Your favor of to-day is at hand. Knowledge, to the 
seeker after it, brings with ita reward far higher and more lasting than 
any outward token. Yet am I gratified to receive this testimonial of 
appreciation from the French Republic ; because it shows that, while 
endeavoring. as a servant of the State of Missouri, to do what lies in my 
power for the advancement of agriculture within her borders, my efforts 
have been appreciated elsewhere. It illustrates that science—the true 
interpretation of nature’s workings, and mighty lever to civilization and 
progress—is not local, but sheds her bright beams among all nations. It 
proves that the discovery of any fact tending to promote the comforts 
and conveniences of human existence, or, as Bacon so tersely expresses 
it, Aumanis commodis inservire, belongs not to one State alone, but to the 
world. Yours respectfully, 

C. V. RILEy, State Entomologist. 


THE PHYLLOXERA. 


The following article from the Bulletin des Sceances de la Society 
d’Agriculture de France, 1872, p. 514, may be of interest to some of our 
vine-growers as showing the good effect of an application of soot for the 
destruction of the grape-vine root gall-louse. However, not having tried 
the soot ourselves, we can only give the experience of others, and add 
that Dr. Erni, formerly chemist to the Department of Agriculture, in a 
letter from Berne, Switzerland, has also highly recommended the use of 
soot for the same insect. 


“M. Rogier, mayor of Poule Gard, exhibited to the central society of 
agriculture the results obtained by the use of soot in the treatment of 
vines attacked by the phy/oxera. A young vine attacked by this insect 
in 1869, was treated with soot put at the foot or root of each stem, in the 
quantity of a half kilogram, (about one and one-tenth of a pound.) The 
vine recovered. ‘The following years all the stems which composed it 
were smoked with soot. ‘This vine has a remarkable vigor, while the 
neighboring vines were dead or seriously injured. All vines treated with 


80 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








soot, used as a preservative compost, are healthier, although surrounded 
with diseased vines.” 

We give the above extract for what it is worth, and hope some of our 
correspondents will try soot and report the result to the Department, as 
we have scarcely any of these destructive insects in our own immediate. 
neighborhood. In reference to this insect, the grape-root gall-louse, the 
Department has received a very interesting letter from Mr. George W. 
Campbell, of Delaware, Ohio, in which he expresses his opinion that the 
aphis (pemphigus) affecting the leaves and that upon the roots are not 
identical. He says: 

‘‘T have since then found in two instances what were doubtless eggs of 
the phylloxera (root-gall-louse) upon diseased roots the same as those 
within the galls, but solitary, and not in clusters as in the galls. This, I 
think, settles the question that the aphides infesting the roots are propa- 
gated under ground, upon the roots, and that they are probably not the 
same as are propagated in the galls upon the leaves.” 

Mr. Campbell also sent specimens of the roots injured, together with 
numerous root gall-lice clustered upon them, but although carefully ex- 
amined with the microscope, we failed to find any eggs whatever upon 
the roots sent. These roots, however, have been planted just as received, 
with the insects upon them, in a flower-pot, and placed in a large wardian 
case in close contact with other pots containing heaithy vines, in order 
to find out if the insects will pass from one vine to another during the 
winter, and if the healthy roots will next season be infested with either 
root or leaf gall-lice. We give Mr. Campbell’s remarks merely to stimu- 
late further inquiry into the identity of the two insects, as many naturalists 
have stated them to be merely varieties of the same insect. In France, 
it appears that flooding the vineyards at certain seasons to drown the 
insect out has been recommended, but this plan, even if successful, could 
only be carried out in level places, and could not be adopted in side-hill 
vineyards. Monthly Report of the Department of Agriculture. 


CoRRECTION.—We would draw attention to an error which appeared 
in Dr. Summers’ advertisement last month, and which will be found cor- 
rected in the present issue. It is in reference to the time up to which 
shares may be secured of the materig!to be collected in the lengthened 
tour he is about to undertake. It slivuk)be up to December, 1874, instead 
of April; after that date specimens only will be for sale; we have a few 
yet to dispose of,—parties desiring them will please address our Secretary. 


Che Canadian Entomolomst, 


VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., MAY, 1874. No. 5 





ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 


15.—THE COCCINELLID&. 


ee 


BY R. V. ROGERS, KINGSTON. 


“ Of all the painted populace that live in fields and live ambrosial 
lives,” there is scarcely a family better known than those which compose 
the last of all the tribes of Hard-shells, the Coccinellide. To the young 
and to the old, to the illiterate and to the scientist, they are equally 
familiar and equally interesting. | Popular sympathy is extended towards 
them by the elders because they do much good in preventing the excessive 
multiplication of Aphides ; by the juveniles because they are very pretty 
little things and tamely pitter-patter to and fro, and their supposed mis- 
fortunes affect deeply sensitive little hearts, while infantile accents lisp 
‘* Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home ; your house is on fire, your children 
are burned.” They are distinguishable chiefly by the colors of and the 
spots upon their wing covers ; the different species are sometimes difficult 
to discriminate ; they number upwards of one thousand, and more than 
thirty species are known to inhabit Canada. 


The general colors of the Coccinellidz are yellow, red or orange, with 
black spots, and black with red, white or yellow spots, the spots being 
either lunate or round. Their shape is hemispherical, and although of 
variable size, an average specimen “bears a considerable resemblance 
in size and figure to an ordinary split pea; they have but very short legs 
and therefore creep but slowly; their powers of flight, however, are 
considerable.” When alarmed or laid hold of, they fold up their tiny 
limbs and eject from the joints a yellow, mucilaginous fluid, which has a 
somewhat strong and disagreeable odor. This fluid entitles the pretty 
Lady-birds to be ranked among the materia medica, and to be assigned a 
place in the Phamacopceia, for it is a superior, cheap and never-failing 


82 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








—— = 


remedy of that most harrowing of pains, the tooth-ache. The learned 
President of the Entomological Society of Ontario says that he has never 
possessed sufficient courage to test its qualities himself, but a well-known 
American brother of the net and bottle tells us that he tried this applica- 
tion in two instances, and the tooth-ache was immediately relieved ;_ but 
he confesses that he was uncertain whether the remedy or the faith of the 
patient acted therapeutically, or the tooth ceased troubling of itself. Let 
us be charitable and give the benefit of the doubt to the preity little 
beetle. 


The Germans call these insects WJWJarien-kaefer, Lady beetles 
of the Virgin Mary; while in France they have the equally fine names of 
Vaches de Deice, or Betes dela Vierge, Cows of the Lord or animals of the 
Virgin. And they have good claims to be held in such esteem, for they 
are most beneficial to man in destroying the plant-lice, which, if allowed 
to go on propagating and increasing unchecked, would soon reduce the 
most fertile country into a barren and a howling wilderness. Lady-birds 
both in their perfect and in their larval state, feed on these lice, and, pro- 
videntially, few trees, plants or shrubs infested by these disgusting and 
destructive creatures are to be found whereon is not also this antidote for 
them. The grubs, which are of a flattened shape and darkish color, 
spotted usually with red or yellow, and furnished with six short legs near 
the fore part of the body, are far more voracious than the mature insect ; 
they creep along on the leaves of plants until they find the helpless 
Aphides, among which they ravage and riot like wolves in a sheep-cot,and 
then, doubtless, many a heart-broken Aphis parent,’ pointing to the 
aldermanic proportions of the lady, exclaim: ‘‘ Foul murder hath been 
done ; lo! here’s the proof !” 


Occasionally Lady-birds occur inimmense swarms. Kirby and Spence 
relate that on one occasion the banks of the Humber were so thickly 
strewn with the common species, that it was difficult to walk without 
treading upon them; at another time they covered in great numbers the 
sand-hills of Norfolk, and again, the cliffs of Kent and Sussex, “ to the 
no small alarm of thejsuperstitious, who thought them the forerunners of 
some direful evil.” 


The eggs of these little creatures are long and oval,of a yellowish color 
and deposited in patches, oftimes among a colony of plant-lice, so that, 
thanks to the wondrous instinct of the mother, the larvae have not far to 
crawl to get their first hearty meal. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 83 


The larvae consume immense quantities of Aphides, and may be seen 
-chasing, or rather, stalking the plant-lice, and eating them one after the 
other, taking the whole set on a leaf or stem in regular order. ‘The larvee 
(see fig. 9) are rather long, oval, soft-bodied and pointed behind, with the 

Fig.9. | prothorax larger than the other rings, often gaily colored and 
beset with tubercles or spines.” After having eaten voraci- 
ously for the appointed time, the larva attaches itself by its 
tail to a leaf or a twig—after the fashion of a caterpillar—and 
either throws back its skin or else keeps it loosely folded about 
it as a protection; in this position it remains quiescent for some 
‘ten or fifteen days, and then emerges a perfect insect. . 





We will now briefly refer to sume of the well known Coccinellidae 
which make the Dominion of Canada their home. 


The Two-spotted Coccinella, C. dzpunctata, Linn.,is our most common 
species. They appear to have two broods each season; the eggs are of 
an orange yellow, and attached in bunches of about twenty-five to the 
bark of trees. They hatch out when the leaves and their natural article 
of diet, the Aphis, appear. ‘The body of the larva is black, with flattened 
tubercles, adorned on top with spines; on each side of the first abdominal 
segment is a yellowish spot, and there is another broad one in the middle 
of the fourth segment, and one on each side. Packard thus describes the 
modus operandi of the larva becoming a pupa, and the appearance of the 
pupa itself: ‘‘ The larva begins the operation by attaching very firmly, 
with a sort of silky gum, its tail to the leaf, the point of attachment not 
being the extreme tip, but just before it, where the tip of the abdomen 
of the pupa is situated. Meanwhile the body contracts in length and 
widens, the head is bent upon the breast, and in about 24 hours the skin 
splits open and discloses the pupa. The body of the pupa is black ; the 
head is also black, and the prothorax is black and yellowish pink, with a 
black dot on each side, and a smaller black dot on each edge. ‘The 
meso-thorax, wing-covers, scutellum and legs are shining black. The 
abdominal rings are pale flesh-colored, with two rows of large black spots 
on each side, the spots being transverse ; the terga of the fourth to the 
seventh segments are separated, the body being arched and _ Fig. 10. 
leaving a deep furrow between.” ws 

The Nine-spotted Coccinella, C. xovem-notata, Herbst. (see 
fig. 10), is one of our most common beetles, and may be found - 
in all parts of our Dominion; it is of a red brick color, somewhat 





Ҥ4 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


larger than the Two-spotted, and ornamented with nine black: 
spots. 
The Plain Lady-bird, C. munda, Say. (see fig. 11), is rather smaller 
than the others of its kind, of a light brick red, but with its elytra. 
Fig. 11. unadorned with any spots. 


The Three-banded Coccinella, C. ¢rifasctata, Linn, is 
of ared brick color, marked with two irregular black bands. 
, across the elytra, and a black spot near the posterior angle. 
It is of an intermediate size between its cousins, the Two-spotted Lady- 
bird and the Fifteen-spotted Mysia. 


The Spotted Lady-bird, zppodamia maculata, De Geer (see fig. 12) is 
a small pinkish beetle, but occasionally of a pale red, with large Fis- 12. 
black blotches twelve in number; two of them on one elytron S@y 
are opposite to and touch two on the other. Mr. Riley says that *%, 
this insect commits great havoc upon the Chinch Bug, and upon 
the eggs of the Colorado Potato Beetle. 








The Thirteen-dotted Lady-bird, 7. 73-punctata, Linn. (see fig. 13) 1s. 
Fig.13. rather larger than the preceding: it has Pig. 14. 


thirteen black spots on a brick red y * 
¢ 
| 


ground. 
B c 


color, marked with black and white. It has been of great use in checking 
the ravages of that destructive pest, the Colorado Bug; its larva is blue, 
orange and black, and in its pupa state it is of the exact color of the 
larvae of the Colorado Beetle, for which it is often, doubtless, mistaken 
and ruthlessly destroyed. 





The Convergent Lady-bird, A. con- 
vergens, Guer. (see fig. 14) is of a deep orange red 





The Parenthetical Lady-bird, 77 parenthesis, Say, is a small beetle of 
a dull red color, and can be easily distinguished at a glance by the dark 
marks, curved like the bands of a parenthesis (_ ), one on the hinder 
part of either wing cover; there are two black spots on each elytra, 
besides the parenthesis, one on the anterior part and the other on the 
inner margin, touching the one on the other cover. 


The Fifteen-spotted Mysia, AZysza 75-punctata, Oliv., is black on the 
head and prothorax, with seven black spots on each of the brownish red 
elytra, and another on the scutellum, according to Packard. But it 
appears to vary much in its perfect form and in color from a very light 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 85 


grey toa deep chestnut brown. The larva, which is about half an inch 
in length, black on the upper surface, with a pale spot on the under edge 
of the prothoracic ring, and furnished with six rows of stout spinulated 
spines, 1s an inveterate foe to the larvae of the Colorado Beetle, and on 
page 169 of the third volume of the EnromoLocisr we have a most 
graphic account of the summary way in which the young lady despatches 
‘the grub. 


The Chilocorus bivulnerus, Mulsant (see fig. 15) is an obese little 
Pig. 16. thing, with minute legs, of a black color, and beautified 
with two yellow spots. 


Such. area few of the very many Lady-birds that creep 
among our trees and adorn our Entomological cabinets. 





REMARKABLE VARIATIONS IN COLORATION, ORNAMEN- 
TATION, &c., OF CERTAIN CREPUSCULAR AND 
NOCTURNAL LEPIDOPTEROUS LARVZ#. 


BY THCMAS G. GENTRY, GERMANTOWN, PA. 


Having spent considerable time during the past season in the collection 
-and study of various larval forms of our twilight and night-fliers, I was 
peculiarly impressed with the novel colors, markings, and external 
structural characters presented by those that were taken late in the 
autumn, at the period when the leaves were donning their autumnal hues. 
“To one who has rendered himself familiar with their usual outward 
characters, a moment’s inspection was sufficient to show a marked 
contrast between those taken early in the season, when the leaves were 
fresh and green, and those captured later, when the foliage of the trees 
had sustained a check to their vitality. That these larval changes have 
a producing cause it shall be my aim to show in the conclusion of the 
present article. 


Of the many specimens taken by the writer during the past season, 
and they were confined to but a few species of as many genera, none 
-exhibited these variations more clearly and prominently than Zé/ea poly- 


86 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





phemus (Attaus polyphemus of Fabricius), Actias @una, Linn. ( Attacus: 
Juna of Fabricius), “acles imperialis of Hubner, and the Sphinx guingue- 
maculata of authors. Before entering into a description of the anomalous 
forms, the writer deems it not amiss to detail, the leading characters of 
the normal ones after their last skin moulting, and just prior to their 
assumption of the chrysalis condition. 


Actias luna, Linn. 
Attacus tuna, Fabr. (normal.) 


Des.—Length of caterpillar, three inches. General color, pale bluish 
green. Head nearly elliptical, somewhat pearl colored. Oral appendages. 
similarly colored. A pale yellow stripe extending along each side, just. 
below the line of spiracles, from the first to the tenth segment; narrow 
transverse bands of a similar color between the rings, continued from side- 
to side, crossing the dorsum. On each ring there are six pearl-colored 
warts, tinged with purple, and at the posterior part of the abdomen three 
brown spots, edged above with yellow. Specimens captured in August 
whilst feeding upon the Black Walnut ( Fuglans nigra.) 


Variety of same. 


Des.—Length, two and three-eighth inches. General color, reddish. 
brown inclining to dullness. Head and oral appendages similar. The- 
lateral and transverse stripes wanting, passing, no doubt, through the 
various shades of yellow, orange, red, into the general color of the body. 
Posterior brown abdominal spots present, but lacking the yellow edging. 
and shining very conspicuously from the depth of their color. The six 
pearl-colored warts, with their purple tinge, have assumed a richer hue,. 
blazing like a coronet of rubies. Taken in October, early part, while: 
feeding upon Fuglans nigra. Cocoons of a beautiful reddish brown.. 
Number of specimens taken, six. 


Telea polyphemus (normal). 


Des.—Length, three inches. General color, golden green. Head: 
light brown, nearly elliptical; mouth pieces similarly colored. A 
transverse, conspicuously-colored yellow band on the posterior margin of 
the pro-thoracic segment. Six rows of gold-colored warts, two dorsal,two 
lateral, and two sub-lateral, reaching from the meso-thoracic to the eighth 
abdominal ring; each wart tipped with two moderately long blackish 
hairs. Between the rings, from the fourth to the tenth segment, a trans- 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 87 


‘ 





verse yellow band. Spiracles transversely oval, with brown centres, 
encircled with yellow. Taken during the latter part of August, while 
feeding upon Acer rubrum. 


Variety of same. 

Des.—Length 234 inches. General color green, with a stronger and 
richer tinge of yellow. Head and oral appendages a deeper shade of 
brown than the preceding. The warts of the color of red sealing wax along 
the back, but upon the lateral walls somewhat elongate oval in shape, of 
an orange color in the middle, deep red above and below, and with a 
narrow vein of the latter color encircling the whole. Spiracles trans- 
versely oval, red in the centre, and surrounded by an orange-colored 
border. Taken during the second week of October while feeding upon 
the leaves of Acer rubrum. Number of specimens captured, twelve. 
These caterpillars have a very close resemblance in markings to the 
normal form of the larva of A. Zuna. 


Lacles imperialis, Hubner (normal). 

Des.—Length, four inches. General color, varying from a dark to a 
light green. Head nearly elliptical, dark brown. Oral appendages 
similar in color. Six rows of spiniferous tubercles, two dorsal, two 
lateral, and two sub-lateral, extending from the first to the last segment. 
The meso and meta-thoracic spines moderately long and slightly curved ; 
spiracles oval, with dark centres and yellowish margins. ‘The entire larva 
invested with a dense growth of long gray hairs. Taken during the last 
week of August, and the early part of September. This species has been 
observed to feed upon Funiperus Virginianus, F. communis, Acer rubrum 
and the various species of Pimus. I might add here that for the past 
four years, in the neighborhood of Germantown, it seems to have deserted 
in a great measure Coniferous plants, and to have taken to Acer rubrum. 
Where I find one upon cone-bearing plants, I discover twenty upon the 
Red Maple. 

Several varieties of the dmferialis of Drury have becn observed as 
late as the 12th of October, exhibiting marked contrasts from the normal 
form, and varying slightly from each other in the details of color 
and marking. 


Variety A. 


Des.—Length, two and three-fourth inches. General color, reddish 
brown. Head and oral appendages similarly colored. Spines small in 


88 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 











proportion to size. Entire body slightly invested with short scattered 
hairs. ‘Two specimens only taken, while feeding upon Acer rubrum. 


Variety B. 


Des.—Length, two and a half inches. General color dark brown, 
exhibiting in certain parts a decided shade of black. In other particulars 
identical with Variety A. Found at the base of a pine tree. Most likely 
had been dislodged therefrom. It had evidently not attained its full 
size, since it continued to feed for nearly a week afterwards. | No appar- 
ent change was observed in its color from the above, at the time of 
entering the ground. 





Variety C. 


Des.—Length, nearly three inches. General color light yellowish brown, 
with a dark median dorsal band an eighth of an inch long, extending 
from the posterior margin of the pro-thoracic to the beginning of the 
anal segments; a much wider one above the line of spiracles, and a 
similar one above that of the pro-legs. These longitudinal bands were 
crossed between the rings by transverse ones, similar in color. Spiracles 
with dark centres and yellowish rims. Entire larva presented a perfectly 
smooth surface, affording a striking contrast to that of the normal type. 
Taken upon Acer rubrum. Six specimens captured. 


Sphinx 5-maculata (normal), 


Des.—Length, three inches. General color, green. Head and oral 
appendages dark, inclining to black. Lateral, oblique, beaded bands of a 
light color, seven in number, each band passing obliquely through two 
segments, from the first abdominal to the analinclusive. Spiracles nearly 
circular, with dark centres, surrounded by light annul. Caudal appen- 
dage nearly black, somewhat armed with rudimentary spines. Taken in 
the early part of September, while feeding upon the different varieties of 
our ordinary white potato, Sofanum tuberosum, L., the common Jamestown 
Weed, Datura stramonium, \.., and the cultivated tobacco, /Vécotiana 
tabacum, L.. 


Variety of same. 


Des.—Length, varying from two and a half to two and three-fourth 
inches. General color dark, bordering on black, rivalling that of the 
head of the normal form. Lateral oblique bands similarly colored with 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 89 





‘the body, their outline being indicated by the prominence due to their 
beaded structure. Spiracles dark, with no trace of light annuli. Observed 
during the middle of October, in the vicinity of Bristol, Penn., feeding 
upon the frost-bitten leaves of (Vicotiana tabacum. 


CONCLUSIONS. 


That the abnormal forms described above should present such curious 
deviations from the ordinary normal type, is to me a rather interesting 
occurrence. That they are to be considered as the effects of a legitimate 
cause is a settled conviction in my mind. What the cause is it will be 
my aim to show. Happening at a period when the leaves of plants show 
a diminished state of vitality, and are assuming the characteristic hues of 
the season in consequence of the introduction of chemical changes into 
their parenchymatous material, it seems that the variations are in some 
way connected with defective nutrition. The unusually small sizes of the 
larvae, when compared with the normal forms, add great weight to such 
an opinion. 


It will be seen that the colors of the caterpillars rival those of the 
changing leaves. In few cases all the transitional color stages from the 
natural one of the larva to that which is last assumed, were distinctly 
observed by the writer, thus clearly proving the two facts to be connected 
‘with each other in the relation of effect and cause. 


If the beautiful and varied shades of green which many caterpillars 
present can be attributed to the green and granular chlorophyl of the 
leaves upon which they subsist, the conclusion must be irresistible that 
when chemical or other changes are inaugurated in the parenchyma of the 
leaf, thereby inducing color changes, the introduction of such food into 
the insect’s economy must give rise to changes therein which will have a 
tendency to vary its external coloration and markings. 


’Tis true that the variable colors of animals in many cases are 
brought about through the influence of the zz/7, The changeableness of 
our ordinary y/a versicolor, Lec., might be cited as an example, and the 
number of such might be prolonged to considerable length, but the 
cases are so numerous and so well known that it would not be advisable 
to give them notice in a paper like the present. In the above example 
the color variableness serves to conceal the animal from its enemies by 
adapting it to the colors of objects upon which it chances to, place itself. 


90 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


—— 





I do not know of any recorded instance where the larvae of the countless: 
numbers of our Lepidoptera possess a similar faculty. Indeed, had such 
a case been observed, especially in a single individual of any of the above 
genera, I should assuredly have characterized it as one where the animal 
possessed the power of altering its color, in accordance with the dictates: 
of a “will principle,” whereby its protection was secured. This power 
of adaptation to the colors of the insects’ natural food, being protective 
in its character, would be preserved, and thus, in the course of time, all 
the individuals of the species would adopt it. 


But I am satisfied that the will (for assuredly these humble forms of 
animal life are endowed with a small degree of it) has nothing to do with 
these color transformations, but aver that they are due to the effects of a 
changed nutrition, as specimens, as above asserted, were observed exhi- 
biting the transitional stages. 


It has been shown by a French experimenter, according to the 
Chronique de la Society @ Acclimatation, that by feeding silk-worms on the 
leaves of the vine, cocoons of a beautiful red have been obtained, and by 
the employment of lettuce, others of a rich emerald green. By another 
Frenchman, silk of a beautiful yellow, of a fine green, and of a violet 
have been obtained by feeding the silk-worms on lettuce or on white 
nettle. An essential condition to the success of the experiment is to feed 
the worms on the mulberry leaves during their early ages, and to change 
the food twenty days prior to the introduction of the chrysalis state. 


There can be no doubt that the silk-bearing glands of the caterpillars 
undergo a certain degree of modification, consequent upon the intro- 
duction of foreign material into the insect’s economy, whereby they adapt 
themselves to the absorption of the proper elements from the general 
circulation, necessary to give to the silk its characteristic colors. It is 
clear that the color of the silk depends upon the food of the larva. Such 
being a true statement of the facts of the case, why will not a changed 
condition of the same food, evolved in obedience to the action of chemical 
or physical forces in the parenchymatous matter of the leaves, have a 
similar tendency? If the different capacities of different leaves to produce 
diverse effects are due to the chemical activities at work therein, bearing 
in mind that the same simple elements enter into the composition of all 
leaves, why will not leaves undergoing chemical and physical changes: 
have different effects upon the tender beings that appropriate them as. 
food, as well as the same food in a stable condition ? 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 91 





In caterpillars that exhibit different shades of green, their external 
appearances are due to the characteristic colors of thelr blood. If this. 
blood undergoes changes, the muscles, tissues and other parts, which are 
the out-growths thereof, must evidently adapt their constitution and color 
thereto. 


To my mind this theory seems perfectly plausible. Whatever cause 
may be assigned to account for the phenomena, there is no getting over 
the fact that the two are synchronous events. 


A DISSERTATION ON NORTHERN BUTTERFLIES. 





(Continued from Page £9). 


BY WILLIAM COUPER, MONTREAL. 


The meeting with Papilio turnus on the Island of Anticosti, astonished’ 
me, as I did not expect to find this butterfly so far north in the Gulf of 
St. Lawrence. Only two specimens were taken during the season, and 
old settlers say that it is always rare. Anticosti is evidently its most 
northerly limit, as it does not occur on the opposite shore of Labrador. 
It is common at Halifax, N. S., and in many localities along the south 
side of the St. Lawrence, until we reach the lake and rocky regions on 
the heighth of land from which the Assomption river flows north of 
Montreal. Plants of the family O/eacee are generally selected by ¢urnus 
as food of the larvae. They feed on /raxinus trifoliata and probably 
the Swamp Ash of the south. The Anticosti food plant of tvrnus is not 
known to me; it may be a species of Fraxinus; whichever it is, the 
Island of Anticosti, which stands between latitudes 49° and 50°, is. 
evidently the most northern range of that class of plants tending to the 
existence of this butterfly.* 





—————— 


* Nore.—Mr. Scudder gives the following food plants of P. turnus: Apovle, 
wild-thorn, choke cherry, cultivated cherry, alder, tulip, bass-wood, oak, black ash 
and birch. The former eight do not grow on Anticosti, but the latter two may 
Mr. Saunders found them feeding on cherry—‘‘ Can. Env., vol, i, p. 74.” 


‘92 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


The Island specimens are smaller, and the dark portions of their 
bodies blacker than those of the west and south. Although undoubtedly 
turnus,they exhibits sufficient change of color to claim attention. Possibly 
the larval food is the power whereby this variety is produced. I have not 
had an opportunity of comparing specimens of /urnus from widely 
separated localities, but it is a fact that those occurring in the latitude of 
Anticosti are different from the fusus of the south and more temperate 
latitudes of America. 


The dark color observable in the Anticosti furnus supports my view 
that boreal insects, especially the Diurnals of high latitudes, are blacker 
where the dark scales occur than their congeners of the south. The fact 
that Papilio glaucus var. turnus * feeds on the Hickory, while ¢zwrnus has 
not been found feeding on the leaves of this tree, is, in part, evidence 
that although the variety is thus attracted by change of appetite to an 
unusual plant, the true form (¢urnus) holds to those food plants which 
have been recorded by the early writers on Entomology. 


I took a few specimens of Cofias on Anticosti last July, which Mr. 
Strecker informs me are p/ilodice.t This is another rare butterfly on the 
Island, where its habits differ from those found at Quebec. The Anticosti 

philodice is a difficult insect to capture ; its flight is rapid and continuous 

during the occasional hours of its appearance, and it is only towards the 
end of July, when the weather becomes cold, that it can be easily 
approached. When it alights on a flower, instead of being erect on its 
feet, it lies sideways, as if to receive the warmth of the sun. Here, then, 
we have the most northern faditat of Colias philodice almost on the 
dividing line between the Canadian and Arctic Insect Fauna. 


* Note.—See Can. ENT., vol, v, p. 9. 


+ Nore.—To my subscribers I distributed an equal share of what I supposed 
were two species of Colias, taken last year on Anticosti, and one of each was sent 
to Mr. Grote, who did not include them in his article on the butterflies of that 
island. 


+ Nore.—Its habits are similar to Colias edusa of Europe, which has a lively 
flight. Mr. Coleman says that ‘‘his pursuer has need of the seven league boots, 
** with the hand of Mercury, to insure success in the fair open race, if that can be 
““called a race at all, between a heavy biped struggling and perspiring about a 
“slippery hill-side, such as edusa loves, and a winged spirit of air, to whom up-hill 
**and down-hill seems all one.” 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 93: 


I believe that the most expert Entomologist would pronounce the 
Anticosti pAz/odice different in habit from those found in the vicinity of 
Canadian cities. There appears to be a difference of opinion among 
Entomologists in reference to the variations in thisinsect. Mr. Edwards, 
of West Virginia, says: ‘I suspect that at least two species are passing 
“under the name of Colias philodice. The species is known to vary 
‘** widely, but some of the supposed varieties are extreme—almost too 
“much to be considered varieties, unless proved to be so by actual 
*‘ breeding from the egg.” 


The only correct method by which to arrive at a conclusion as to the 
species constituting the genus Co/ias, would be the tracing of the imago 
(true form or variety) to the plants on which it deposits its eggs. It is 
possible that eggs deposited by a single female on two distinct American 
plants may produce larvee showing variation from each other and from the 
ordinary coloration of larve of the original type, which may have been 
described in another latitude, and taken on a third food plant. These 
variations are known to occur, and a wide difference is seen between 
many species which systematists term representative Ameriean forms of 
European types. ‘There is no question that great deviation exists between 
the species which are found on the two Continents, and the cause of such 
variation is what is now wished to be arrived at. We find certain 
butterflies localized or kept within a certain range, because climate 
restricts the growth of the bulk of that class of plants on which they 
feed. In such a case, one hundred examples of the butterfly will probably 
show no more variation than is general between the sexes, and I give 
Pieris (Ganoris) borealis as an illustration of this fact. Larvee of the 
greater portion of North American Diurnals are said to feed on from two 
to ten distinct plants, and I am of opinion that it will yet be proved,when 
proper attention is given to Entomology in connection with Chemical 
Botany, that many of the perplexing varieties occurring among the true 
forms are produced by the food * which sustain the larvae. 


* Nore.—W. S. Coleman, in his remarks on the brilliant metallic spots which 
adorn the chrysalides of butterflies, says: ‘‘This golden effect is produced by a 
‘*brilliant white membrane underlying the transparent yellow outer skin of the 
“‘chrysalis (Cynthia cardui), aud it may be imitated, as discovered by Lister many 
‘* yearsago, by putting a small piece of black gall ina strong decoction of netties ; 
‘*this produces a scum which, when left on cap-paper, will exquisitely gild it, without 
**the application of the real metal.” 


Late experiments made by a French Entomologist on caterpillars of a Bombyx, 


"94 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





The species comprising the genus Graffa of this country, are subject 
to very perplexing variations. Mr. Edwards, in vol. v, p. 148, CAN. ENT,, 
writes that Mr. Mead of New York, by experiment, identified Grafta 
dryas with comma. Two females of Grapta dryas were tied in a muslin 
bag, which was attached to a branch of Hop-vine, on the 3rd of July. 
‘The result was a large number of eggs laid on the leaves and in the 
“bag.” Tne eggs were all hatched on the 5th, and the first ones began 
to change on the 21st (he does not state the month, but as the imagines 
appeared on the 30th, I suppose the time to be August). ‘Towards 
“maturity some of-the larvee were white; the others were black, like the 
“larvae represented in Mr. Edward’s plate of comma.” 


Here, then, is one experiment with “upwards of sixty” larvae, of 
what is said to be the product of dryas, resulting in giving imagines of 
true comma. As Mr. E. does not state how many white adult larvae were 
‘seen, it appears to me that this experiment, although a good one, does 
not prove the leaves of the hop to be free from eggs of another variety, 
and it may be possible that a female of comma visited that vine prior to 
the bag being placed over the branch. We have no direct evidence that 
all were the product of dryas. 


Messrs. Edwards, Saunders, Scudder and Mead deserve great credit 
for their labors in metamorphic Entomology, but it appears to me that a 
link is missing—the admixture of the sexes prior to the deposition of the 
eggs, Were the dryas females the selection of comma males? 


As illustrating the confusion in which the species of Grapfa stand at 
present, two specimens sent to Mr. Edwards were stated by him to be 
progne and gracilis, and two similar ones sent to Mr. Strecker were 
reported as faunus and comma. aunus is taken on Anticosti, and Iam 
therefore inclined to think that the latter is dimorphic with gracés. I 
found a larva of a Grafta feeding on wild currant, on Anticosti, a 
description of which was sent to Mr. Edwards, of West Virginia, who 
says: ‘*I don’t know what to make of the larva of Grapfa you describe. 


were as follows: ‘‘It was ascertained that silk worms fed on vine leaves yielded silk 
‘‘of a red color; when they had lettuce alone they gave cocoons of an emerald green; 
““ nettle leaves produced violet silk, and it was also found that numerous combinations 
*“of colors were the result of a varied diet of mixed leaves, fed during the last 20 
** days of the larva period. Yellow, red, green and violet seem to be,the colors most 
“successfully produced.” 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 95 





“*it would not appear to be that of pragze,which feeds on currant, as that 
“as olive brown in color, and this color covers nearly all the surface. 
“* Comma has a yellow skin in some of its phases, with black marks. At 
“other times it is black, with yellow marks. It varies greatly. I do not 
“know that it feeds on currant. aunus, Scudder thinks, is dimorphic 
“with gracilis. I don’t. The larva of faunus feeds on willow. It may 
“*have other food plants, but so far we only know of willow; and it 
“looks like the larva of C. album, of Europe; that is fore-half rusty 
‘“‘red, hind-half white, so that your description does not fit that.” 


Mr. Edwards, in his remarks on larvae raised from the females of 
interrogationis, describes them as exhibiting “every distinct type of 
“coloration, and that either type of larvae produced either sex or form 
“of butterfly indifferently.” G. ivterrogationis has been found feeding 
on several plants, one of which is 77a pubescens, and it will surely be 
conceded that there is a marked difference between the taste of the 
leaves of the hop and linden. If the color of a larva is affected by food 
taken into its system, does it not appear reasonable that the imago issuing 
from it will be more or less marked? Say, for instance, that Grapta 
comma feeds on two distinct plants, and that a male whose larva fed on 
the hop, took for its mate a female which fed on elm. In all probability 
a versicolor butterfly would be the result, although the form would be that 
of comma. Itis on the ground of finding northern species confined to a 
single plant, and which presents no varieties, that I conclude that such as 
are extremely phytophagic are those which produce the greatest number 
of varieties, while their forms are lessened or extended in accordance 
with geographical situation. * 


There are a few other well marked species inhabiting the north 
belonging to Lycaenide and Hesperide, but as the previous remarks apply 
equally to them, I shall not extend the matter. My object is to ventilate 








* Norr,—Coleman, in his ‘ British Butterflies,’ remarks on the variety 
Gonopteryz cleopatra, of Europe, that M. Boisduval has proved that G. rhamni and 
the former are identical, and in a foot note adds that ‘‘they are two varieties, but 
‘‘ why they fly together he cannot explain; but it is possible there may be a con- 
‘* stitutional difference between individual insects, just as we see that of two English- 
**men going to a hot climate—one will brown deeply, while the complexion of the 
“ other will hardly alter, although exposed to the very same external influence.” In 
another portion of Coleman’s book he thinks it possible that Colias edusa var. helice 
may be a male between C. edusa and C. hyale, 


96 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





the subject, in order that it may be more thoroughly investigated by those: 
who have leisure. The theory advanced is, I think, a reasonable one,and 
is based upon what I have noticed in my rambles during a number of 
years in the woods and fields. 


MICRO - LEPIDOPTERA. 
BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY. 
(Continued from page 77.) 


ERRATA. 


Page 73, line 1, for “ costa” read costal vein. 
im “3, 10r “ COstalZeread swocoszal. 
*“* 23,for “place” read plead. 
Page 75, line 7 from the bottom, for “‘ there” read ¢hev. 


ce 


PHILONOME, geév. 100. 


The little insect which I have made the type of this new genus, unites: 
in itself the characters of several genera. 


Tongue naked, about as long as the maxillary palpi, which nearly 
conceal it. The maxillary palpi are about as long as the labial palpi and 
in the dead insect are laid upon the coxae; they are rather densely 
scaled, the scales being somewhat roughened. ‘The labial palpi ascend 
about half way to the vertex ; the first and second joints are short; the 
second has a minute tuft at the end beneath, and the third is about as 
long as the first and second together, and somewhat roughened with 
scales. Face broad, smooth, with appressed scales and much retreating ; 
vertex roughened, with a large tuft of erect scales which extends down 
between the base of the antennae ; no ocelli; eyes moderate, visible from 
beneath, but concealed above by the large eye-cap which clothes the 
somewhat swollen basal joint of the antennae. Stalk of the antennae 
simple, about two-thirds as long as the primaries. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 97 








~~ —r— — re oe pu Se 


Primaries lanceolate, almost caudate; the costal vein runs near the 
margin, which it reaches at about its middle. The subcostal sends two 
branches to the costal margin from near the end of the discal cell, which 
is Closed rather acutely by the union of the subcostal and median veins. 

The first of these branches is given off at the point where the subcostal 
‘bends towards the median, and the second is given off almost from the 
-apex of the cell. The median vein is unusually large and distinct, and 
from just behind the middle it sends a branch to the dorsal margin, from 
the end of the cell it sends a fureate branch also to the dorsal margin ;. 
from the apex of the cell a discal branch, which is almost continuous 
with the median, passes to apex, becoming trifurcate near the apex, one 
-of its branches going to the costal margin near the apex, one to the apex 
-and one to the dorsal margin near the apex. One or more tufts of raised 
scales. 


- Hind wings linear lanceolate ; costa somewhat naked from the base to 
.the basal fourth, and from thence excavated to the apex ;_ the costal vein 
is close to the costa and enters it about the basal fourth; the subcostal 
proceeds to the apex; behind the middle it sends two branches to the 
-dorsal margin; the median is furcate behind the middle, close to the 
margin, both branches entering the dorsal margin. Cell unclosed. 


P. Clemensella. LN. sp. 

Palpi, face and eye-caps white ; tuft reddish orange ; antennae pale 
reddish orange; thorax white, with a reddish orange narrow stripe just 
before the apex, and a spot of the same hue on each shoulder. Primaries 
reddish orange, with two white basal streaks, one median, the other 
dorsal, the latter continuous with the white of the thorax, and extending 
to a small raised tuft of brown scales just before the middle of the dorsal 
margin ; from the tuft the dorsal white streak is deflexed obliquely to 
-about the middle of the wing, where it intersects at an acute angle the 
median basal white streak ; at the apical third of the costa is a rather long 
oblique costal white streak, which is produced along the extreme costa 
towards but not to the base; apical portion of the wing dusted with dark 
brown.  Ciliae whitish, with an oblique, rather wide streak of reddish 
orange, dusted with brown, resembling the “hook” of many species of 
Gracilaria. 


Al. ex. scarcely ¥3 inch. Kentucky. Larva unknown. 


I have named it in honor of Dr, Clemens, who may be called the 
father of this branch of Entomology in this country. 


98 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








ARCTIA ARGE, Drury. 
BY PROF. S. H. PEABODY, AMHERST, MASS. 


A moth taken by an evening lamp, May 25, 1873, on that night and’ 
the next day laid eggs which hatched June 14. ‘The larvee fed freely on 
the leaves of the common narrow-leaved plantain, Plantago /anceolata.. 
The earlier moults were not observed with care; the last two occurred 
June 23 and July 1. | 


July 6, the larvee ceased feeding and next day began to spin their 
cocoons in the breeding cage. July 26, imagos appeared, copulated and 
laid eggs for a second brood. Other imagos appeared at about the same 
time from without, showing the species to be double brooded. The cycle: 
of transformations occupied 42 days from the hatching, 62 from the- 
laying of the egg. 

When the larvee ceased feeding they were 134 inches long, ¥ inch in: 
diameter, tapering slightly to each end. 


Head small, black, marked in front with animpressed inverted 4. Fore 
legs black ;_ pro-legs yellow with black fringe. 


Body dark brown; a white dorsal stripe, and midway to spiracles a 
white lateral stripe, shaded to orange on each segment ;_ spiracles black ;. 
an orange spot above each, and a wavy white line beneath. Underneath 
dirty gray ; on each segment twelve black tubercles, two on each dark 
stripe, clothed with long white hairs. 


The moth is quite abundant in this locality. 


EDITORIAL SUMMARY. 


THE BUTTERFLIES OF NoRTH America, by W. H. Edwards—Second 
Series.—We are much pleased to be able to announce that the first part 
of the second volume of this admirable work will be issued during the 
present month, by Messrs. H. O. Houghton & Co., Riverside Press, 
Cambridge, Mass., the succeeding parts to appear quarterly, with five: 
plates in each part. The illustrations which adorn the pages of Vol. 1 
are admirably truthful and life-like, and we have no doubt but that the 
forthcoming volume will in this respect quite equal its predecessor. The 
talented artists who were engaged upon the plates of the previous volume, 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 99 








Miss Mary Peart and Mrs. Bowen, will execute the plates of this also. 
Illustrations of the eggs and larva, as well as the butterfly, in many cases 
will be given, which will add greatly to the interest of the work. Price 
$2.50 per part. We bespeak for this volume an enlarged circulation. 


FRANCIS WALKER, of the British Museum, has lately published a supple- 
ment to his Catalogue of Hemiptera ; also the first part of a general list of 
Diptera. Copies of these pamphlets may be had from FE. W. Janson, 28 
Museum Street, London, W. C., England. 


WE HAVE received a copy of a Memorial to the Legislature of Mas- 
sachusetts from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, setting 
forth the desirability of a new and thorough survey of the state in which 
besides the usual geological matter, there should be “full descriptions 
and truthful illustrations of the animals and plants, including their natural 
history, transformations, and relations to man and his requirements, said 
reports to be prepared with special reference to an intelligent use by the 
people.” The State could not make a wiser use of its funds. We heartily 
wish the memorialists success, feeling sure that in such a publication 
Entomology will receive its due share of attention. 


A New Enromo.ocicaL Montuiy.—We are pleased to learn that 
the Cambridge Entomological Club, organized last autumn, have deter- 
mined to issue an organ to be called “Psyche,” a 4-paged monthly, to 
begin with. The first number will be issued in a few weeks. We com- 
mend the Cambridge Club for their enterprise, and shall gladly welcome 
their little sheet, and sincerely hope it may live and grow. 


BULLETIN OF THE BUFFALO SociETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES.—We 
have received No. 4, which completes the first volume of this valuable 
publication. The present part contains eight plates, making eleven in 
all which have appeared in the volume of 289 pages. No. 4 contains 
the following Entomological papers: ‘On the Butterflies of Anticosti,” 
“On Eight Species of Noctuide,” and ‘“ Determination of Brazilian 
Sphingidae Collected by Mr. Chas. Linden,” by Aug. R. Grote ; ‘ Notes 
on the Species of Pasimachus,” by John L. Le Conte, M. D.; “The Two 
Principal Groups of Urbicolae,” ‘‘Note on the Species of Glaucopsyche 
from Eastern North America,” by Samuel H. Scudder ; ‘‘ Notes on North 
American Lepidoptera,” ‘“ Description of ‘Two New Noctuidae from the 
Atlantic District,’ by H. K. Morrison; ‘New Phalaenoid Moths,” 


100 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





“* Rectification of Treitschke’s Use of Hubner’s Generic Term ‘Cyma- 
tophora,’” by Leon F. Harvey, M. D. Price of this volume complete, 
Three Dollars. Part 1 of vol. 2 is now in hand, and will shortly appear ; 
it will contain, among other articles, a catalogue of the Noctuidae of North 
America, embracing nearly 800 names, by Aug. R. Grote, with one colored 
plate. ‘The subscription for the new volume will be Four Dollars. Re- 
mittances should be sent to Leon F. Harvey, M. D., Buffalo, N. Y. 


CarocaLA Rexicra.—Mr. Robert Bunker, of Rochester, N. Y., has 
sent us a very nice photograph of an unusually dark female specimen of 
relicta. He says: “It is well known that this species alights usually on 
white surfaces ; the specimen from which this photograph was taken was 
captured on a surface as dark as itself.” 


BOOKS RECEIVED. 


Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, vol. xvi, part 2, June, 1873—Jan., 1874, with two 
plates and several wood-cuts. , 

On tne Oviposition of the Yucca Moth, from the American Naturalist, pp. 4, by Prof. C. V. Riley. 

Controlling Sex in Butterflies, from the American Naturalist, pp. 9, by Prof. C. V. Riley. 

The Grape Phylloxera, from the Popular Science Monthly, pp 16, with seven cuts, by Prof. C. V. Riley. 

‘The Grape Phylloxera, False Theories. From the New York Weekly Tribune, by Prof. C. V. Riley. 

Lepidoptera, Rhopaloceres and Heteroceres Indigenous and Fxotic Part 9, with one colored plate 
containing figures of eleven species of Catucala, by Herman Strecker, Reading, Pa. 


Note on the Species of Glaucopsyche from Eastern North America, Svo., pp. 2, by Samuel H. Scudder, 
Cambridge, Mass. 


The Two Principal Groups of Urbicola (Hesperide, Auct.,) Svo., pp. 2, by Samuel H. Scudder, Cam- 
bridge, Mass. 


The Pterostichi of the United States, from Proc. Acad Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, July 27, 1873. pp. 19, by 
John L. Leconte, M. D. 


Synonymical Remarks upon North American Coleoptera, from Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., pp. 16, by 
John L, Leconte, M. D. 


Notes on the Species of Pasimachus, from Bul. Buffalo Soc, Nat. Sci., pp. 8, by John L. Leconte, M D. 


On the Origin of Insects and Remarks on the Antennal Characters in the Butterflies and Moths, from 
Proc. Amer, Assoc., pp. 3, by Aug. R. Grote. 


The Natural History of a Polymorphic Butterfly, from the American Naturalist, May, 1874, pp. 10, by 
Samuel H. Scudder. 


Report Dept. Agriculture, Washington, April and May. 
Science Gossip, March and April. 

Nature to April 16th. 

Le Naturaliste Canadien, Mars et Avril. 
The Zoologist, March and April. 
Newman’s Entomologist, March and April. 
Journal of Education, Feb’y. 

Prairie Farmer to May 9. 

Indiana Farmer to May 2. 

Canada Farmer to May 1. 

Western Rural to May 9. 

Bruce Reporter to May. 


Che Canadian Entomologist, 


VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., JUNE, 1874. No. 6 


ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 


——S 


16.—THE GOOSEBERRY SAW-FLY (Nematus ventricosus, Klug.) 


BY THE EDITOR. 


This prolific pest, known also in the larval state as the Currant Worm, 
is now so widely disseminated, and, at this particular season of the year, so 
abundant and destructive, that it may well be classed among our com- 
monest insects, and is one in which all cultivators of the gooseberry and 
currant must take some interest. 


The Saw-flies, the parents of this troublesome brood, usually spend the 
winter in the chrysalis state, enclosed in a tough, papery-looking, silken 
cocoon, sometimes on and sometimes under the surface of the ground, 
and occasionally fastened on the stems of the currant or gooseberry 
bushes on which they have been feeding, or in some sheltered spot near 
by. They make their appearance very early in the season, usually about 
the third week in April, but sometimes a week later, depending on the 
temperature; and by the time the gooseberry bushes are bursting into 
leaf, these enemies have paired, and the females are ready to deposit their 
eggs on the new and tender foliage. The gooseberry bushes develope 
leaves before the currant bushes, and whether it is from this cause alone 
or from a preference for the gooseberry foliage, we know not, but we find 
that the gooseberry is the first attacked, and often, if let alone, many 
bushes will be stripped quite bare of foliage before the eggs deposited on 
the currant are hatched ; on this account the gooseberry bushes require 
the first attention. 


Both male and female flies are represented in fig. 16, but magnified. 


The upper one (a) is the male, 4 the female ; the hair lines below show 
¢ 


102 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








their natural size. The male is nearly as large as the common house-fly, 
Fig. 16. 


but with a more slender body and 
glossier wings. Its head is black, 
spotted with dull yellow, with the an- 
tennae brownish black ;_ the thorax or 
anterior portion of the body is_ black, 
with a yellow spot at the base, and in 
front of each of the fore wings ; the 
abdomen or hinder portion is black 
above, yellowish underneath and at the 
tip. Its legs are bright yellow; the 
wings glossy, with black or brownish 
black veins. The female is larger than 





= 
YE 


the male and differs from it chiefly in 
e the color of the body, being mostly 
| yellow, instead of black. These flies 
are active only during the warmer parts of the day; at other times they 
are quiet, indeed almost torpid. 

The eggs are laid on the surface of the larger veins or ribs on the 
underside of the leaves; they are arranged in long and regular rows, as 
shown in fig. 17, each female depositing about a hundred or more. We 
have counted as many as 118 squeezed from the body of a female just 
escaped from the chrysalis, and as the eggs are then very soft and easily 
ruptured, it is probable that some a at 
of them were broken in count- 3 
ing, and thus escaped notice. This 
process of egg-laying is continued 
throughout May, so that you have 
eggs hatching almost daily during 
the latter part of the month, on ¢ 
bushes which are, perhaps, covered & 
with worms from half an inch to an «& 
inch long. It is probable that the }: 
female fly lays her stock of eggs 
at one time, and that the subsequent 
deposits are made by those who 
have escaped later from the pupa 
state. The eggs, as found on the leaves, are about one-twentieth of an 
inch long, four times as long as broad, rounded at each end, and having a 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 103 





whitish glossy surface. As squeezed from the body of the insect they 
-are not much more than half this size, which indicates that they must 
expand considerably after being laid. The exterior of the egg is thin 
and elastic, and contracts and shrivels up as the young larva escapes ; the 
usual duration of the egg stage is from a week to ten or twelve days. 

The larvae or worms, when first hatched, are about one-twelfth of an 
inch long, with a greenish white, semi-transparent body and a large head, 
having a dark round spot on each side. At first they eat small holes in 
the leaf on which they are placed, as shown at 2 and 3, fig. 17, feeding 
in company, from 20 to 40 on a leaf, the soft parts of which they soon 
consume, leaving nothing but the frame-work ; as they increase in size 
they eat the veins as well down nearly to the foot-stalks, and, travelling 
from leaf to leaf, they soon strip the branch on which they have 
been located, when they spread to other parts of the bush, which is 
sometimes stripped quite bare of foliage by these marauders in a few 
days. 

Fig. I8 represents the larva nearly full grown. It isthen about three- 
fourths of an inch long, with a black head and a bluish green body, 

5s lees becoming yellowish on the hinder 

segments and on the sides, _ Its 
whole upper surface is thickly 
covered with small, shining black 
tubercles or raised dots, from 
each of which arises a single 
black hair. Low down on each 
side, in a line with the spiracles, 
is a row of larger black tubercles 
from each of which there arises 
several short black hairs; the 
terminal segment has a patch of 
black above. The under surface 
is pale bluish green, growing 
yellowish towards the extremities, 
with a few faint brownish dots ; feet nearly covered with patches of black. 
Prolegs—of which there are seven pairs—pale greenish. After the last 
moult, just before entering the chrysalis state, it becomes of a uniform 
plain green coulor, tinged with yellow. 

Having completed its growth, its chief concern now is in the selection 
of a suitable place in which to pass the chrysalis stage of its existence. 





104 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





Such a spot having been fixed on, the larva begins to contract the length: 
of its body and to spin a cocoon over itself, which, when finished, is- 
nearly oval, smooth, of a brownish color and papery texture, and within. 
this it changes to a small brown chrysalis, from which the fly escapes late: 
in June or early in July. Shortly after this eggs are again deposited, from. 
which another brood of worms are hatched ; these complete their growth 
before summer closes, and in most instances change to chrysalids before: 
winter, and thus these tormentors lie dormant until spring comes round: 
again. 

There may possibly be more than two broods during the season ; it 1s. 
certain that there are not many weeks during the whole of summer when 
you cannot find the larvae on the bushes in some stage of their growth. 
It is well known that the flies composing the separate broods do not all 
appear at one time ; some are weeks later than others, and their progeny 
are later in proportion; but whether this tardiness in maturing on the 
part of some specimens is sufficient to account for the almost continual 
presence of the larvee from May to September, we are unable at present 
to decide. 


The Saw-fly has natural enemies, but, unfortunately, they do not as 
yet appear anywhere in sufficient numbers to materially lessen its in- 
crease. One small parasitic insect attacks the egg,and there are two other 

Fig. 19. species which prey upon the larva. Besides these we 
have another friend in a member of the Heteroptera 
or true bug family, see fig. 19. This insect is about 
the size of acommon Lady-bird, with the head, thorax 
and legs black, and the abdomen red, with an 
elongated black spot in the centre, crossed by a 
whitish line. On approaching one of the worms they 
thrust into it their sharp proboscis and quietly suck 
its juices until it shrivels up and dies. In the figure 
this insect is magnified ; the outline below shows its 
natural size. 





It is fortunate that we have a remedy which is sure and speedy, and 
while it brings sudden death to the worm, does not injure either the 
bushes or fruit. We refer to powdered Hellebore, which is best used by 
mixing two tablespoonfuls of the powder in two or three gallons of water, 
and showering it on the bushes with a watering pot. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 








ON TWO NEW SPECIES OF NOCTUID~. 
BY HB: KK MORRISON, OLD CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


Hydrecta semiaperta. Nov. sp. 


Antennae serrate. Collar arched, ochreous at its base, brown above. 
Behind the collar the usual longitudinal sharp-edged thoracic crest. Ab- 
‘domen with a thick, short tuft on its first segment. 2 with an extended 
Ovipositor. Anterior wings above brown, with ferruginous shades. All 
‘the transverse lines dark brown, regular and distinct. Half line present. 
Interior line undulate above the median nervure ;_ at the latter point it is 
‘bent inwardly, and advances in a nearly straight line to the inner margin. 
Median shade very distinct, broad, not clearly defined along its edges, 
-strongly angulated on the median nervure, and then nearly touching the 
‘reniform spot. Exterior and subterminal lines obliterated on the costa, 
‘below distinct, sub-parallel, broadly undulating, the former dentate between 
the median branches. 


Ferruginous stains on the median and subterminal spaces, particularly : 
‘just before the subterminal line and between and beyond the ordinary 
spots. Terminal space in fresh specimens showing a purple reflection. 
Orbicular spot small, ferruginous, ringed with brown. Reniform spot long 
and narrow, pure white, crossed by the black nervules, its upper half 
frequently more or less overspread with ferruginous shades. Nervules 
black, with irregularly occurring white atoms. Fringes long, edged with 
a basal and exterior black line. 


Posterior wings dark fuscous, lighter at the base ; a black line at the 
‘base of the brown fringe. 


Beneath,the most conspicuous feature is the broad, black, wan exterior 
line, which extends over both wings. Discal dots present. On the 
anterior wing, before the exterior line, the wings are blackish. The costa 
-subterminal and terminal spaces of the anterior, and the whole of the 
posterior wings violaceous brown, sprinkled with numerous black atoms. 


Expanse, 34 to 37 m.m. Length of body, 16 m. m. Sad. Mass., 
New York. Not uncommon. Coll. of H. K. Morrison. 


In color this species most nearly approaches sera, G. & R.; in the 
form of the spots, rea, Guen. 


106 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





The white reniform spot is not a sexual character, as in séctitans, Linn.,. 
but common to both sexes. 

The regular, distinct, median lines, particularly the broad angulated’ 
median shade, the white reniform, and the continuous exterior line: 
beneath, afford a ready clue to its determination. 


Fladena congermana. Nov. sp. 


Palpi, vertex, the upper portion of the collar, and the tegulae ferru- 
ginous brown. ‘The basal portion of the collar, a broad, dorsal, thoracic 
band, and the abdominal tufts dull ochreous. Anterior wings uniform 
dull red, with the nervules brown. The transverse lines, with the 
exception of the subterminal, almost entirely obliterated, represented by 
white dots on the costa and nervules, but in some cases the ground color 
is slightly lighter along the ordinary course of the lines. Subterminal line 
more distinct, showing the usual 2 -shaped marking between the median 
nervules, set off and followed by a lighter line. Terminal space lighter 
than the rest of the wing, particularly at the apex and internal angle, 
where are formed irregular ochreous spots. Orbicular spot reduced to a 
pale dot, encircled with brown. Reniform as in the common sfufator 
Grote (Bul. Buf. Soc. Nat. Sct.,vol.t, p. 190), kidney-shaped, with an internal 
brown annulus following the shape of the spot. Posterior wings white at 
the base, with a broad, diffused light fuscous terminal band. Beneath 
the wings are yellowish white, with reddish atoms terminally and traces of 
the exterior line. Expanse, 35 to 38 m.m. Length of body, 18 m. m. 


A rare species. Hab. New York, and one specimen taken at Beverly, 
Mass., June 24, 1867, by Mr. Edward Burgess, who has generously given 
me this and many other interesting species of Noctuidae. 


A very detailed description of this species is not necessary ; it is 
another member of the same little closely related group of Hadena, of 
which duditans, Walk., and sputator, Grote, are the only species. It is 
the smallest of the group (expanding 35 to 38 m.m., while spufator 
expands 42 to 46 m. m., and dubitans 48 to 50 m. m.,) but it resembles 
nearest in color duditans, the largest. 


‘Its best character is the orbicular spot, reduced merely to a whitish 
dot, surrounded with a brown ring. In the other species the orbicular,. 
although obscured by the ground color, is of ‘the usual size. It can be 
easily distinguished by the dull red ground color of the anterior wings, the 
almost white posterior wings, the dorsal thoracic band, and the white 
conspicuous reniform. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 107 





THE PRESERVATION OF CATERPILLARS BY INFLATION.* 
BY SAMUEL H. SCUDDER. 


Many persons are deterred from collecting caterpillars by the difficulty 
and expense of preserving them in the ordinary way. The easy and 
inexpensive method of blowing up and mounting the pellicle is so little 
known in this country, that at the last meeting of the American Associa- 
tion, only one entomologist besides myself had ever seen the operation ; 
since then others have tried it, and been delighted with its simplicity. In 
the hope of inducing all our entomologists to experiment for themselves, 
the following explanation cf the process has been prepared. 


It should be premised that caterpillars may be prepared in this way,so 
as to retain their colors far better than by any other method, and often to 
to be fit subjects at any subsequent time for the artist’s pencil; the most 
delicate processes may be preserved uninjured, and the examination of 
hairy or spiny appendages made even more readily than during life. 
Specimens taken from spirits, unless absolutely naked, are always difficult 
to examine from the matting of the hairs; and the internal organs can 
seldom be studied, even in the rudest manner, unless the greatest care 
has been bestowed upon their preservation ; in fact, no specimen can be 
fitted by any process for the study of both internal and external organiza- 
tions, and for the latter, no method of preparation compares with that of 
inflation. 


The instruments necessary for the operation, besides the tools in the 
hands of every entomologist, are a small tin oven, a spirit lamp, a pair of 
finely pointed scissors, a bit of rag, a little fine wire and a straw. 


The oven is simply an oblong tin box, about 2% inches high, 2% 
inches wide, and five inches long ; the cover is of glass, and one end of 
the box is perforated by a circular hole 114 inches in diameter. It would 
be well to have this end of glass, and the opposite end should be mov- 
able ; the oven rests upon an open standard of twisted wire or riveted tin 
plates, as in the woodcut (fig. 20.) No soldering should be used upon 
the oven or standard, as it would soon be melted. Mr. Riley suggests 
that there would be an advantage in having the front end of the standard 
higher than the back, as he has shown inthe sketch. He also proposes 


———— 





*From advance sheets of the American Naturalist. 


108 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 











a movable wire loop, indicated in the woodcut by the dotted line,* but 
this would seem superfluous. 


The wire should be very fine and annealed; the best is that wound 
with green thread and used for artificial flowers. It should not be more 
; Fig. 20. 



































than half a millimetre in diameter; the cut represents it magnified nine- 
teen diameters (fig. 21). 


The straw. Mr. Goossens, of Paris, my courteous instructor in this 
art, who possesses a collection of nearly a thousand species of inflated 
caterpillars, uses nothing but ordinary wheat straw, choosing stout, dry 
pieces of various sizes, the cross section of which is perfectly circular ; 

Aes with these he inflates the smallest 
micros and the largest sphingidae.— 
Various modifications have been sug- 
gested ; a glass tube drawn to a fine 

Y////i point,and provided with a pair of spring 
clips to attach to the caterpillar, is a favorite form ; the Germans use this 
largely, and sometimes attach the caterpillar by threads passed around 
the anal prolegs. Dr. LeConte informs me that Dr. Gemminger uses a 
finely pointed tube with an elastic bulb attached, like a rubber syringe. 


Mr. Riley suggests (as his drawing represents) still another mode, which 
is to pierce a piece of soft wood along the grain with a fine heated wire 


* The engraver should have made this loop hang from the edges of the oven. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 109. 


and then sharpen to a point the tube thus formed, to be inserted in the 
caterpillar ; a tube is also inserted in the other end (see fig. 21.) For 
myself I prefer the simple straw. 


The operation. Kill the subject by a drop of ether or by a plunge in 
spirits ; if it be a hairy caterpillar, it should remain at least half an hour 
in alcohol, and then rest on bibulous paper for forty-eight hours; other- 
wise the hairs drop off in the subsequent operation. Then placing the 
caterpillar in the left hand, so as to expose its hinder extremity beyond 
the gently closed thumb and first two fingers, enlarge the vent slightly at 
the lower edge by a vertical cut with the scissors ; next lay the larva 
either upon bibulous paper on the table, or upon soft cotton cloth held in 
the left hand, and press the extremity of the body with one finger, always 
with the interposition of cloth or paper, so as to force out any of the 
contents of the rectum ; this process is continued from points successively 
farther back, a slight additional portion of the contents of the body 
being gently pressed out with each new movement. Throughout all this 
process great care should be taken lest the skin should be abraded by too 
violent pressure, and lest any of the contents of the body soil its exterior 
or become entangled in the hairs or spines; to avoid the latter, the 
caterpillar should be frequently removed to a clean part of the cloth or 
paper. When a portion of the intestinal tube itself becomes extruded, it 
should be seized with a pair of strong forceps, and, the head remaining in 
the secure hold of the left hand, the tube should be forcibly but steadily 
torn from its attachments; with this most of the contents of the body 
will be withdrawn, and a delicate pressure passing from the head toward 
the tail will reduce the subject to a mere pellicle. 


The alcohol lamp is now lighted and placed in position beneath the 
oven; a straw is selected, of the proper size to enter the enlarged vent, 
and the tip, after being cut diagonally with sharp scissors, is moistened a 
little in the mouth (to prevent too great adhesion of the skin to the 
straw) and carefully introduced into the opening of the caterpillar; the 
process may be aided by blowing gently through the straw. When the 
skin is slipped upon all sides of the straw to the distance of nearly a 
quarter of an inch, without any folding of the skin and so that both the 
anal prolegs protrude, a delicate pin (Edelston and Williams, No. 19, is 
best) is passed through the anal plate and the straw. 


By this time the oven will be sufficiently heated to commence the 
drying process, which consists simply in keeping the caterpillar in the 


110 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





— — erred 


oven, extended horizontally upon the straw by blowing gently and steadily 
through the straw, as one uses a blow-pipe. Too forcible inflation will 
make the caterpillar unsightly by distending unnaturally any spot that may 
have been weakened or bruised in the previous operation ; the caterpillar 
should be kept slowly but constantly turning, and no harm will result from 
withdrawing the creature from the oven and allowing it to collapse, to gain 
breath or rest ; only this relaxation should be very brief. The caterpillar: 
should be first introduced into the oven while inflated by the breath, and 
so placed that the hinder extremity shall be in the hottest part, directly 
above the flame, for it is essential that the animal should dry from behind 
forward ; yet not altogether, for as soon as the hinder part has begun to: 
stiffen (which can readily be detected by withholding the breath for a 
second) the portion next in front should receive partial attention, and the 
caterpillar moved backward and forward, round and round over the flame. 
During this process any tendency of the caterpillar to assume unnatural 
positions may be corrected—at least in part—by withdrawing it from the 
oven and manipulating it; during inflation, the parts about the head 
should be the last to dry and should be kept over the flame until a rather’ 
forcible touch will not cause it to bend. 


To secure the best results, it is essential that the oven should not be 
too hot; the flame should not be more than an inch high, and its tip 
should be one or two inches from the bottom of the oven. 


When the skin of the caterpillar will yield at no point, it is ready for 
mounting. The pin is removed from the straw and the caterpillar skin, 
which often adheres to the straw, must be gently removed with some 
delicate, blunt instrument, or with the finger nail. 


A piece of wire a little more than twice the length of the caterpillar 
is next cut, and, by means of forceps, bent as in fig. 21, the tips a little 
incurved ; a little shellac* is placed at the distal extremity of the loop, the 
wire is held by the forceps just beyond this point, so as to prevent the 
free ends of the wire from spreading, and they are introduced into the 
empty body of the caterpillar as far as the forceps will allow ; holding the 
loop and gently opening the forceps, the caterpillar is now pushed over 
the wire with extreme care, until the hinder extremity has passed half-way 
over the loop, and the shellac has smeared the interior sufficiently to hold 





* To prepare this, the sheets of dark shellac should be preferred to the light, and. 
dissolved in forty per cent. alcohol. 


> 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 111 


the caterpillar in place when dry: the extremities of the parted wires 
should reach nearly to the head. Nothing remains but to curve the 
doubled end of the wire tightly around a pin with a pair of strong forceps 
and to place the specimen properly labelled, in a place where it can dry 
thoroughly for two or three days before removal to the cabinet. 


For more careful preservation and readier handling, Mr. Goossens: 
employs a different method, placing each specimen in a glass tube, like 
the test tube of the chemist. The wire is first bent in the middle and the 
bent end inserted in a hole bored in the smaller end of a cork of suitable 
size, so as nearly to pass through it; the loops are then formed as above ;. 
both ends of the cork are varnished, and a label pasted around the 
portion of the cork which enters the tube, thus guarding both specimen 
and label from dust, and the latter from loss or misplacement. After two 
or three days the cork with the caterpillar attached is placed in its cor- 
responding tube, and the tube may be freely handled. 


Modifications of this system will occur to every one. Dr. Gemminger 
uses a syringe for the extraction of the contents as well as for the inflation 
of the emptied skin. Foran oven, the Vienna entomologists employ an 
ordinary gas-chimney, open at both ends and inserted in a sand bath, 
which prevents, perhaps, the danger of too great heat. 


TRANSLATION OF THE SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA OF 
EUROPEAN MYCETOPHILID. 


BY FRANCIS WALKER, LONDON, ENGLAND. 


The Diptera, generally considered, are less attractive than other orders: 
of insects, and appear to be more insignificant, but are the most useful on 
account of their excessive abundance and of their purification of matter 
and thereby of the atmosphere. In like manner, the Diptera may be divided 
into more or less numerous and beneficial tribes, and the work assigned 
to the former is the removal of decaying substances. The fungus race is 
in subjection to the Mycetophilidz, and are the means for the develope- 
ment of the perfect state of the latter, according to the law whereby 
degradation precedes the attainment of a higher state, and this law is 
exemplified in minerals, plants and animals. In like manner the 


* 


719 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 


Mycetophilidz among themselves exhibit much difference in utility and 
beauty, the former quality being exemplified by Mycetophila with its 
skipping and shuffling movements; the latter by the graceful form of 
Macrocera when it rests on a shady paling. The four following sub- 
families of Mycetophilidz are distinguished from the others by each of 
them including more than one genus: 


Sub-family MycEToBin&. 


A—Brachial vein and cubital vein forming a sessile fork... 1 MYCETOBIA 
B—Brachial vein and cubital vein forming a petiolated fork. 
a—Base of this fork nearer to the base of the wing than is 


the base of, the 2nd. hind areolet.... .... 2.0... s,sis'-<.5<. 2) LOM 
b—Base of this fork more distant from the base ef the wing 
than is the base of the 2nd hind areolet........ 3 PLESIASTINA 


Sub-family CERATOPLINA. ” 


A—Mouth elongated like a beak 2”... "0.05.2 oe ones ed ASI ee 
B—Mouth not elongated like a beak. 

a—Antenne dilated ; palpi not bent together............ 2 CEROPLATUS 
b—Antenne not dilated ; palpi bent together...............3 PLATYURA 


Sub-family SCIOPHILINA. 


A—Costal vein extending to the tip of the wing............ 1 SCIOPHILA 
B—Costal vein not extending to the tip of the wing. 
a—Base of the 4th hind areolet much nearer to the base of 

the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind areolet.....2 EMPHERIA 
b—Base of the 4th hind areolet a little nearer to the base of 

the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind areolet. 
*—Second hind areolet with a very long petiole............ 3 POLYLIPTA 
* *—Second hind areolet with a moderately long petiole......5 EMPALIA 
<—Base of the 4th hind areolet in a transverse line with the 

base of the 2nd, or very near the base of the 

WEG res cape etiam: © «, «armenian es ..e..6 TETRAGONEURA 
d—Base of the 4th hind areolet much more distant from the 

base of the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind 

ATEGIEU cere hy cis dia SETS: + «nde onyeie aie lin lel eee. 4 LASIOSOMA 


Sub-family MycreroPHILIN&. 


A—Three ocelli on the front. 
a—Abdomen with seven segments. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 113 


*—Proboscis not elongated. 
+—Costal vein extending beyond the tip of the cubitus. 
t—Basal part of the cubital vein and middle transverse vein 

equally long. 
§—Auxiliary vein not extending to the costal vein........ 1 SYNTEMMA 
§§—Auxiliary vein extending to the costal vein .......... 3 ANACTINIA 
tt—Basal part of the cubital vein longer than the middle 

transverse vein. 
§—Base of the 4th hind areolet under the base of the cubital 

Mateos 8 SRS a, «o's | in alah een 2 LEPTOMORPHUS: 
§§—Base of the 4th hind areolet nearer to the base of the 

wing than is the base of the 2nd hind areolet........4 BOLETINA 
§§§—Base of the 4th hind areolet more distant from the base 

of the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind areolet..6 PHTHIRIA 
tt—Costal vein not extending beyond the tip of the 

See Sniieee kee ae 7 GLAPHYROPTERA 
fr tonescis cloncated:...\jJ.ceeee + ««-. s-< sa ed) slater Ween 5 GNORISTE. 
b—Abdomen with six segments. 
*—Hind vein forked. 


i Pong done: 2... kk. et... SRN eee ISH © 8 LEJA 
Pe POL SHORE. |. is, « .:s De Eh REE "s eae Sd ig a ae 9g COELOSIA 
**__Hind vein not forked. 

t—Miaddle discoidal vein forked dee... 0.5 « .eiece. oialnse wae oldls 10 AENEMIA 
*1—Middle discoidal vein. not, fo@mmed... ..... jsciivcaee jet ene 11 AZANA 


B—tThree ocelli: one on the inner border of each eye; the 

third in the middle of the fore front. 
a—Costal vein extending much beyond the tip of the cubital 

vein. | 
c—Two ocelli; one on the inner border of each eye. 
a—Base of the 4th hind areolet nearly in a transverse line 

with that of the second hind areolet...........25 MYCETOPHILA 
b—RBase of the 4th hind areolet much more distant from the 

base of the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind 

OU Ea ak be ena RG OA EE w= « «+ 0.5: 9 ang haa 26 DyYNATOSOMA 
c—Base of the 4th hind areolet much nearer to the base of 

the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind areolet.....27 CoRDYLA 
+—Petiole of the second hind areolet long................20 EXECHIA 
¢t—Petiole of the 2nd hind areolet short.............. 24 MyYcoTHERA 
**%**__No ath hind areolet. 


114 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





+—Fore cubital areolet moderately broad..... ESS be vi ag ahaa, 21 ZYGOMYIA 
+t—Fore cubital areolet yery nargow JPost te ee ee 22 SCEPTONIA 
+—Hind vein not forked. 
$2 Bind vein forked... 14/00. . tees v ates co einen eens ae 23 EPICYPTA 
*__Base of the 4th hind areolet in a transverse line with that 

of the 2nd hind areolet.. ae AE .12 DACOSIA 


**__Base of the 4th hind ieoteat more dpe ihie fic ena base 
of the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind areolet.18 ANATELLA 
b—Costal vein extending a little beyond the cubital vein.....19 PHRONIA 
c—Costal vein not extending beyond the tip of the cubital. 
Base of the 4th hind areolet a little nearer to the base 
of the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind 





areolet. 
+-—Petiole of the 2nd hind areolet very short..............14 RYMOSIA 
++t—Petiole of the 2nd hind areolet moderately long........15 ALLODIA 


**__Base of the 4th hind areolet much nearer to the base of 

the wing than is the base of the 2nd hind areolet. 
+—Costal vein ending much before the tip of the wing. .13 BRACHYPEZA 
T?—Costal vein ending a little before the )tip'’of’ the 


WO os a ates dues mete Ee ees + Stee ele SiGe Glen ears 16 BRACHYCAMPTA 
***___Base of the 4th hind areolet and that of the 2nd about 
equally distant from the base of the wing..........17 TRICHONIA 


****__Base of the 4th hind areolet much more distant from 
the base of the wing than is the base of the 2nd. 


NOTES ON COLLECTING LEPIDOPTERA 
BY G. M. DODGE, GLENCOE, DODGE CO., NEBRASKA. 


In collecting Catocalas at Ohio, Ill., I have found them, during July, 
invariably abundant upon Black Locust (Robinia pseudacacia), which, at 
‘ that time, exudes considerable sap from the holes made by borers. Last 
season I pinned rags, dipped in molasses, to three or four of these trees, 
and from the middle to the last of July obtained from them over thirty 
Catocalas of ten species. On suitable evenings I would visit the trees 
with a lantern and cyanide bottle ; several times between sunset and ten 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, LLb 








o'clock, p. m., earlier or later, I had little success. I seldom used a net, 
preferring that a specimen should escape rather than capture it in a 
damaged condition. 


In August and September decayed apples or pomace from the cider 
mill, spread upon trunks of trees, will attract the late species of Catocala 
such as cara, concumbens, &c., and a host of the lesser Noctuidae. 


Limenitis misippus and ursuda are also very fond of the juice of apples. 
I have often seen the former species feeding upon apples that were being 
sun dried, and both may be observed around apple trees upon which the 
fruit is over-ripe. Upon more than one occasion, by wetting my fingers 
with apple juice, and holding them near an wrsu/a, as it sat upon a leaf 
above me, I have induced it to leave its perch and alight on my hand, 
where it would remain until the last drop was sucked up. Where the 
rarer species of this genus are found, it would seem that apple might be 
successfully used as a bait. 


The objection to cyanide offered by Mr. Norman, in No. 1, Vol. vi, 
does not seem to me a sufficient reason for discarding it. Although 
cyanide certainly ‘renders the moths rigid,” the difficulty can be over- 
come. My Catocalas, taken in the evening, remained in the bottle all 
night, and next morning were transferred to a close box. At noon they 
were soft enough to spread without difficulty. 


NEW CANADIAN NOCTUZ. 
BY AUG. R. GROTE, 
Curator of Articulata, Buffalo Soc. of Natural Sciences. 


Perigrapha Normani, Grote. 

g 2. The eyes are hairy, the tibia unarmed. ‘The collar is cut out 
in front and there is a slight tuft in front, on the dorsum of the thorax, 
while the sides of the patagia are determinate. Dark leather brown ; 
thorax concolorous, with the inner edge of the patagia with a more or less 
obvious bordering of dark scales. Forewings shining leather brown, 
deepening in tint over costal region, somewhat darker mottled. Lines 
distinct, continuous, geminate, with lilac-grey centers distinctly con- 


116 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





trasting. Basal half line bent on median vein, continued to internal’ 
nervure. ‘T. a. line nearly even, slightly outwardly arcuate, very slightly 
notched on costal and median veins. Orbicular very indistinct; it 
appears large, spherical, outlined by a ringed shade of a lighter brown 
than the ground color. Reniform large and wide, with a distinct darker 
inner annulus, and with an enclosed blackish stain on the median vein 
inferiorly. TT. p. line like the first two transverse lines, exserted round 
the reniform, nearly even. There are three grey ante-apical costal dots, 
while the apices are distinctly washed with a grey shade, which obtains 
beyond the subterminal line over costal region on the terminal space. 
Terminal line very vaguely indicated. Hind wings whitish, with a vague 
fuscous terminal shade and the veins stained with blackish, darker in the 
female, fringes whitish. Beneath pale, with a common line appearing by 
blackish nervular dots and streaklets ; a discal point on secondaries, which 
have whitish fringes, while beneath the fringes of the tore wings are brown 
(as above) and contrast. xfanse, 32 m.m. St. Catharines, George 
Norman, Esq. 


Matuta. WN. g. 


Habitus of Zaeniocampa and Perigrapha,; the thoracic and caputal 
squamation is woolly. The eyes are, however, naked and lashed, not 
hairy, as in allied genera. The hind and middle tibiae are spinose, and 
the form is not flattened, as in Glaea ( Cerastis, Led.) The f¢ antennae 
are simple, not pectinate, as in Pachnobia. The fore wings are broad, 
entire and widen outwardly, with full and rounded external margin. In 
color the species resembles Ceramuca ficta; the lines are obsolete, except 
the subterminal, which, with the ordinary spots, is grey. The thorax has 
the collar distinctly lobed, as in Perigrapha, and the sides are well defined , 
there seems to beno dorsal tuft, while the wings are broader than in that 
genus. ‘The habit is that of Zaeniocampa and Lithophane; the perfect 
insect has been taken by Mr. Geo. Norman, in May. 


Matuta Catherina, Grote. 


f. Dark and deep red brown; the fore wings are brighter colored 
outside of the t. p. line, and at base below the median vein. The median 
transverse lines are hardly to be made out against the blackish red brown 
color of the wing ; thet. p. line is seen to be single and regularly inter- 
spaceally scalloped and accented on the nervules. The stigmata contrast 
by their grey color; the orbicular well sized, spherical; the reniform 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Va 





proportionate and enclosing a blackish inferior stain as in allied genera. 
The subterminal line is quite distinct, belng indicated by a line of 
powdery greyish scales, like the stigmata. There is an extremely fine 
grey, wavy terminal line d¢fore the margin, formed by the outer edging of 
the deeper tinted marginal line which appears as interspaceal points. 
Fringes light brown, cut by a fine darker hair line (preceded by a pale 
line) without the middle. Hind wings pale, much soiled with fuscous 
and with the pale fringes ruddy tinted. Beneath fuscous, with a rufous 
tinge, both wings rather dark, with discal marks and a broad, vague, 
common shade line. Thorax like fore wings ; collar above with indistinct 
pale edging ; palpal tips pale, as is the front, else the head is rufous. Ax- 
panse, 32m.m. St. Catharines. 


Besides the foregoing, Mr. Geo. Norman has secured specimens, in 
beautiful condition, of the following Noctuz, on Catkins, in May: 


Lithophane vulgaris, G. & R. (socia of my List); Lzth. disposita, 
Morr.; Lith. Bethunet, G. & R.; Lith. ferrealis, Grote (allied to the 
European Z. semé-brunnea, Haw); Lith. laticinerea, Grote.; Morrisonia 
vomerina, Grote; <Actinotia ramosula (Guen.,) and TZaeniocampa ala 
Guen. These species are mostly additicns to the Canadian lists. It is 
improbable that Zuentocampa instabilis occurs in N. Am.; and 7. alia has 
probably been mistaken for it. 


The following species of European Noctuz are credited to North 
America with apparent certainty : 


Agrotis augur (Fabr.) 

<< 6baja (Wa .) 

“  enigrum (Linn.) 

“  plecta (Linn.) 

¢  fennica (Tausch.) 

“<  confiua (Treits.) 

“<  saucia, Hubn. 

“<  segetum (8. V.) 

<<  suffusa (S. V.) 
Mamestra grandis (Boisd.) 

“ — brassice (Linn.) 
Hladena arctica, Boisd. 

“«  rurea (Fabr.) 
Dipterygia pinastri (Linn.) 
Euplexia lucipara (Linn.) 


118 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


Heliophila pallens (Linn.) 
Pyrophila tragopoginis (Linn.) 
Xanthia gilvago (W. V.) 
Scoliopteryx libatrix (Linn.) 
Plusia gamma (Linn.) 
$v, e2ubDn, 
Anarta cordigera (Thunb.) 
“« — melanopa (Thunb.) 
Fleliothis armigera, Hubn. 
Euclidia cuspidea (Hubn.) 


Besides the foregoing, other species are occasionally attributed to 
North America, such as //yppa rectilinea, for which H. xylinotides is mis- 
taken ; Agrotis nigricans, for which Agr. tessellata is mistaken, etc. With 
the exception of the boreal species of Azarta, the foregoing list embraces 
all the European species I feel as yet at all sure are properly credited to 
North America. 


ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MONTREAL BRANCH. 


The first annual meeting of the Montreal Branch of the Entomological 
Society of Ontario was held on May 6th, 1874, when the following officers 
were elected for the ensuing year : 


W. Couper, President; G. J. Bowles, Vice-President ; F. B. Caulfield, 
Secretary-Treasurer ; G. B. Pearson, Curator ; Council—W. Hibbins, sen., 
C. W. Pearson, P. Knetzing. 

The reports of the Council and Secretary-Treasurer were read, and on 
motion adopted. The Branch, although young, is in a prosperous 
condition, the expenses of the past year having been met, leaving a small 
balance on hand, and the list of members is gradually increasing. Owing 
to the lateness of the season but little field work has been done, but some 
rare captures have been made already. The Branch meets as usual at the 
residence of the President, No. 67, Bonaventure Street, Montreal, P. Q. 
All business communications to be addressed to the Secretary-Treasurer, 
F. B. Caulfield, 254, St. Martin Street, Montreal, P. Q. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 119 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


A THIRSTY SPIDER. 
DEAR SIR,— 

On the sixth of April my attention was drawn to a small black spider 
running on the inside of my window-sill. In the course of its travels it 
came to a drop of water that had trickled from the window pane, when it 
stopped and commenced drinking. 


Wishing to see what it would do, I touched it with my finger, when it 
‘set off at a great rate ; passing near another drop, it ran to it and again 
commenced drinking, this time turning out of its path in its eagerness to 
reach the water. 

I have sometimes seen Lepidopterous larve drinking, but had never 
observed a spider doing so before. 

F. B. CAULFIELD, Montreal, P. Q. 





DYSAUXES MEDIASTINA. 
DEAR SIR,— 


Dysauxes mediastina, Hubner, Zutrage, figs. 505, 506, must be erased 
from the list of American Lepidoptera, the locality assigned to it by 
Hubner being erroneous. ‘The figures quoted above are excellent 
representations of an Australian insect which I have received from New 
South Wales. This is not the only erroneous locality which has crept 
into Hubner’s writings, as those who have studied the volumes will have 
discovered. Yours truly, 

R. H. STRETCH, San Francisco. 
PLATYSAMIA COLUMBIA, SS. Z. Smith, 
DEAR SIR,— 

In March last I found a cocoon on a maple tree, in the east end of 
this city, which bore a very close resemblance to P. cecropfia, only it was 
not much more than half the size. I compared it with Mr. Bowles’ de- 
scription of co/uwmbia, and as it differed in some respects, I supposed it to 
be cecropia. All doubts were, however, removed by the appearance of the 
imago on the 13th May, which proved to be a fine male specimen of 
columbia. I believe this is the first that has been taken in Montreal. 


. C. W. Pearson, Montreal, P. Q. 


120 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


EDITORIAL SUMMARY. 

We have received from our esteemed friend, J. A. Lintner, of Albany, 
N. Y., No. 3 of his Entomological Contributions, from the 26th Annual 
Report of the New York State Museum of Natural History, 8vo., 76 pp.,. 
with many cuts. These yearly contributions are valuable additions to our 
Entomological literature, giving us in terse language the facts and 
observations recorded by one of our most accurate and pains-taking 
fellow laborers. The present No. is divided into 12 chapters, in each of 
which much will be found to interest the practical Entomologist. The 
first is on the larva of Audryas unio and allied forms. Then follow— 
“Transformations of some Bombycidae,” “ Descriptions of Larvae of 
some Bombycidae and Noctuidae,” ‘‘ Notes on New York Bombycidae 
and Noctuidae,” ‘Descriptions of New Species of Cucullia,” &c., &c. 
We trust Mr. Lintner will receive every encouragement from the directors. 
of the New York State Museum in the prosecution of his valued labors. 

The promised list of the Noctuidae of North America, by Aug. R.. 
Grote, has come to hand. It is a goodly octavo pamphlet of 77 pages, 
with one colored plate illustrating eleven new species. The first 58 pages. 
are occupied with the catalegue proper, which is conveniently indexed and 
gives evidence throughout of great care and labor in its compilation ; the 
remaining pages are filled with descriptions of some 35 species, many of 
which are new. As stated 1n our last, this list will appear in the forth- 
coming number of the Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. 
For the convenience of Entomologists, separate copies have been struck 
off, which may be had by remitting $1.50 to the Secretary, L. F. Harvey, 
M. D. 

Psyche.—The first number of this little Entomological monthly has. 
appeared. It is nicely printed on good paper, and we doubt not, from 
the array of names of noted Entomoilogists composing the Cambridge 
Entomological Club, of which this is to be the organ, that it will be well 
sustained. 

The Butterflies af North Ameria, by W. H. Edwards.—Part 1 of the 
second series is just at hand, with five beautifully colored plates, in which 
the drawing and coloring are both elegant and faithful. We know of no 
illustrations so charming and correct as these are. If all the succeeding 
parts of the forthcoming volume equal in design and execution that which 
we are now noticing, vol. 2 will be a fitting sequel to vol. 1. Figures of 
the larva and egg in several instances accompany those of the perfect 
insect. 


Che Canadian Entomolonist. 
VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., JULY, 1874. No. 7 


NOTES -ON THE LARVA? OF ARGYNNIS CYBELE, 
APHRODITE AND DIANA. 


BY W. H. EDWARDS, COALBURGH, W. VA. 


I am now able to give the results of my attempts at raising the cater- 
pillars of the three Argynnides, Cybele, Aphrodite and Diana, from the 
egg, this past season. In August and early in September, 1873, females. 
of cybele were easily obtained, and a few of aphrodite, which is a rare 
species here, and these were shut up in kegs, within which were placed 
pots of growing violets. The eggs were laid abundantly on the leaves 
and stems, and on the cloths which covered the kegs. There were soon 
several hundreds of cydele eggs, and many of aphrodite. About the same 
time, Mr. T. L. Mead, who was at Coalburgh, made an excursion to a. 
region about fifty miles east of us, where aaa had been previously found 
by him in some numbers, and brought back with him about sixty females, 
which were placed in kegs and boxes, also with violets either in pots or 
planted in earth in the boxes. Hundreds of eggs were so obtained of 
this species. The three species hatched in from seven to twelve days, and 
so far as was possible, the larvae at large were transferred to plants, but 
of course many were lost. In a few instances some of them were 
observed to feed on the leaves, but almost all began their hybernation at 
ence after hatching, and fixed themselves on the under sides of the 
leaves, and especially in the grooves of the leaf-stems, where some of 
them were to be seen, extending quite down to the base of the stem. The 
three species were so nearly alike at this stage that cyde/e and aphrodite 
could not be distinguished apart by any glass I had, and dana differed 
almost imperceptibly from the others. 


They were each about one-twentieth of an inch long, cylindrical, with 
brown heads ; the body greenish brown, with rows of tuberculated darker 
colored spots, from each of which emanated a black hair. 


122 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


As the weather became cool the plants gradually lost their leaves by 
drying up; mould began to attack the decaying leaves, and I was 
compelled to transfer the caterpillars to fresh plants, which at this season 
I had much trouble in providing. In fact I had to raise a number of 
plants from off-shoots in the house, to be ready for any emergency. The 
transfer was effected by using a pin bent at the point. The larvae would 
curl up when touched, and were easily hooked and so moved. When 
placed on the new plants they would soon straighten out, and change 
position sufficiently to make themselves comfortable. But as the process 
had to be repeated several times as the winter progressed, a great many 
of the larvae were lost. I placed the pots ina small greenhouse about 
the 1st of January, hoping to see the caterpillars revive and commence 
feeding, and had the satisfaction soon after of seeing this desired result 
take place. On the gth of January I noticed some of the cybele were 
active and had been feeding; on the 21st, aphrodite and diana. ‘They 
very soon began to increase in size perceptibly, and were active in running 
about the leaves and in wandering off the flower pots. I should have 
lost these lively ones had I not confined them to the plants by glass lamp 
chimneys and glass globes. But in these the air was no doubt too con- 
fined for an Argynnis caterpillar (though a Grapta would have thrived,) 
for many died ; and I came near losing them all in a way that I had not 
provided for, the gardener having taken occasion one day, when I was 
absent from home, to smoke the entire house with tobacco, forgetting to 
remove my pots. 


From this catastrophe emerged about a score of cybele, half a dozen 
aphrodite, anda few of diana. hese larvae all throughout this period 
grew very slowly, no doubt owing to the cooling down of the house at 
nights, so that it was the 27th of January before I was able to see that any 
had passed the first moult. The first to change was cydele, whlch now 
appeared in a coat of smoky brown, covered with long fleshy spines, from 
which sprung many short black bristles. These spines were of the general 
appearance shown in the several successive moults. In all there were 
five moults to each of these species, and until the fourth they maintained 
their close resemblance to one another, so that had one from either lot 
escaped to another, I could not have separated them. They were 
cylindrical, thick, furnished with six rows of stout black spines, from the 
ends and sides of which sprung stiff bristles. ‘The color of the body was 
silky brown or black, and at bases of part of the spines were yellow or 
fulvous spots. The heads were bilobed, brown or black, much tubercled, 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 1 Se 


with conical vertices, and the back of the head was yellow or fulvous ; 
the spines of the second segment were rather longer than the rest and 
projected forward horizontally over the head. After the fourth moult 
there were some differences. Cyde/e became larger than aphrodite, though 
not varying much in other respects, the one measuring at maturity about 
two inches in length, and the other about one and a half inches. But 
diana, which was also large, like cydele, at the fourth moult, displayed 
spines of immense size, nearly twice the length of those of the other two 
species. These radiated from the central axis of the body, like spokes 
from the hub of a wheel, the lower lateral row drooping so that the ends 
were on the level of the feet. The spines of the second segment, four in 
all, two dorsal and two lateral, were a formidable protection to the head. 
It was a superb creature. 


The mortality had been so great among all these larvae that at last, as 
they approached maturity, they were reduced to but three or four of 
cybele, two of aphrodite,and one of diana, and how to preserve these was 
amatter of much anxiety. I arranged a keg with a high gauze bag over 
the top of it, which bag was confined by the upper hoop, and in the keg 
were planted violets every two or three days, as the leaves were consumed. 
This plan seemed to answer well, affording plenty of air, and I regretted 
that I had not tried it sooner. The larvae were fond of resting high up 
the sides of the bag, or on elevated sticks under it, coming down when 
impelled by hunger. After remaining motionless for hours, they would 
suddenly arouse themselves and start off in extreme haste, wandering all 
round the enclosure, and when leaves were reached, would eat ravenously 
and then climb up to rest again. I sometimes found them extended on 
the earth, and no doubt they appreciated the coolness and dampness 
of it. 


Only three cyde/e went into chrysalis. They spun buttons of white silk 
and soon hung suspended, nearly straight, the anterior segments but little 
bent, and so continued about two days, when the change to chrysalis 
occurred. The first change was on the roth of May, and three months 
and ten days from the awaking from hybernation. ‘The chrysalis yielded 
the imago in twenty-three or twenty-four days, and the whole period from 
the laying of the egg to the imago was just thirty-eight weeks. One 
aphrodite only fastened for chrysalis. This was on the 14th of May, and 
the change occurred on the 15th, an interval of about thirty-six hours 
Unfortunately this insect died in chrysalis. 


124 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


net 





Diana fixed on the 17th,and became a chrysalis on the roth, the interval 
being about fifty-four hours. This yielded a butterfly on the 9th of June,, 
after twenty to twenty-one days. The chrysalids of the three bore a 
strong likeness to each other, being all of the same general shape, and I 
may say in brief that they would be tolerably represented by the figure: 
of the chrysalis of A. ag/ata, in Humphrey’s British Butterflies, although 
much larger than that figure. The length of cydele and diana was rather 
over one inch; aphrodite was as long, but more slender than the others,, 
and it, as well as dana, was prettily streaked and variegated in brown and 
red; cySele was plain brown, and in one case yellow brown, with little 
ornamentation. By Miss Peart’s assistance I was able to obtain a com- 
plete series of drawings from egg to chrysalis of each species, and of the 
several moults of each, and I propose to introduce these figures in course 
of Vol. 2, Butterflies of N. A. 


Cybele was flying this year at Coalburgh, on the 1st of June, and 
these early examples must have come from larvae that began to feed after 
hybernation in March, as the food plant then would first appear above 
ground, so that the larval period after hybernation, when in the natural 
state, would be two months shorter than in the cases related above. 


With regard to the food plant, I used every species of wild violet 
accessible from the woods, and during the winter cultivated species, and 
discovered no preference for one more than another. The wild violets 
were in flower part of the time, and the flowers were eaten by the cater- 
pillars with avidity. The contrast between the habits of these larvae and 
those of other genera not far separated from them, according to the 
received arrangement, is something remarkable—as Graf/a, for instance. 
One is in the preparatory stages nine months in the year, is impatient of 
confinement, extremely tender and.raised only by the greatest care; the 
other is hardy, indifferent to confinement, and completes its cycle in about 
thirty days, from the laying of the egg to the appearance of the butterfly ; 
one is single brooded, the other many brooded, at Coalburgh there being 
three or four. The number is probably dependant in any latitude upon 
the length of the season. 





There are one or two points in the life history of the larger 
Argynnides that are not yet clear. With us, cydele f is on the wing from 
the 25th of May to the ioth of June, as I have noticed for several 
successive years. Probably aphrodite nearly as soon, and dana first 
appears about the 2oth of June. Shortly after the rst of June the ? of 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. [Ze 





cybele is to be seen, and both sexes abound in the clover fields. By the 
end of June cybe/e has become scarce, and the individuals to be seen have 
lost their freshness and are broken and worn. It is certain that these 
early appearing females have not matured eggs and laid them, because at 
no time from June to August will anything but rudimentary eggs be found 
by dissecting, and the eggs do not become distinguishable to the eye 
until August. They then mature rapidly, and in a few days attain full 
‘size. JI am confident that no eggs are laid till August. But about the 
first of that month and all along to near the end of it, there appear in 
great numbers both fresh males and females, asif just from chrysalis, with 
no abrasion of the hairs on thorax between the wings, which spot is the 
first to show wear. (I doubt if an Avgynzis could fly two days without 
thus giving evidence of it.) There are flying at the same time many worn 
individuals, especially females. These last are the first to deposit their 
eggs, but shortly after, and up to the time of frosts, the others also are in 
condition to do the same. I see no explanation of the appearance of 
these freshly emerged butterflies than that they have formed part of the 
brood of caterpillars hatched the previous fall, some of which brood 
yielded the butterflies that came out in May and June, and the remainder 
continued in the larval or chrysalis state until August, and upon these last 
the perpetuation of the species largely depends, for nine-tenths of the June 
flight must have been destroyed long before August. If [ am mght, the 
preparatory stages of the August cyde/e must consume eleven months out 
of the twelve. 


CATOCALA WHITNEYI, /&. sp. 
BY G. M. DODGE, GLENCOE, DODGE CO., NEBRASKA. 


Expands 14 inches. Primaries light gray, the outer third brownish, 
‘with a triangular gray spot near the apex. A narrow black line near the 
base of the wing extends from the costa to the submedian vein. Parallel 
to this and farther out, a black patch, narrowest at the costa and broadest 
on the second median veinlet, extends nearly across the wing. ending 
at the submedian vein. A triangular black patch surrounds the brownish 
reniform spot, and immediately back of this a curved black line reaches 
from the swb-dorsal vein to the second median veinlet. The secondaries 


126 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


are yellow. The black median band is curved, constricted in the middle 
and ends abruptly at the submedian vein. The marginal band is broadest 
at the apex, is sometimes broken opposite the termination of the median 
band, and extends but little beyond the submedian vein. There is a 
small yellow apical spot. Fringe on fore wings brown ; on hind wings 
whitish, partly brown at base. 


Beneath the prevailing color is yellow, being lighter outwardly. The 
median band of the posteriors is narrower than above, and prolonged by 
scattered black scales toward the anal angle. The marginal band is 
unbroken. Lunule black. Thorax and collar light gray. About one- 
third or less of the specimens taken are brown instead of gray. The 
median band also varies in width. 


I name this species in honor of Mr. C. P. Whitney, of Milford, New 
Hampshire. My specimens were taken at Ohio, Ill., but it also occurs. 
here. It is the only Catocala that I have ever seen attracted by flowers. 


THE FOOD-PLANTS OF EUROPEAN BUTTERFLIES: 


Second LVotice. 


BY SAMUEL H. SCUDDER, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


The third and concluding part of Kaltenbach’s work (De LPjlanzen- 
feinde aus der Classe der Insecten), has just been received in this country, 
and contains the following notices of the food plants of European 
butterflies, in addition to those previously given.* The numbers in 
parentheses refer to the former list. 


Melanargia galathea—Phleum pratense. 
Erebia medusa—Panicum, Setaria. 
ethiops—Dactylis. 
Zigea—Mulium effusum. 

Satyrus hermione—Holcus lanatus. 





ce 


I 
2 
3- 
4. 73 
5 











* See CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, vi, 21-25. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ey) 


* 





21. 
22. 


Satyrus circe—Lolium, Bromus, Anthoxanthum. 
: brisets—Sesleria and other grasses. 
semele—Several species of Aira. 
adryas—Avena elatior. 
Pararge mera—Poa annua, Glyceria fluitans, Hordeum murinum, 
Festuca. 

megera—Triticum and other grasses. 
egerta—Triticum repens. 
achine—Lolium teriueleutum, Carex. 
LE pinephele anira—Poa annua and other grasses. 

= tzda—Triticum cespitosum. 
tithonus—Poa annua. 
hyperantus—Milium effusum, Poa annua, P. pratensis. 
Coenonympha hero—Elymus Europzeus and other grasses. 

“3 iphis—Brachypodium sylvaticum, Cynosurus and other 

grasses. 


“ce 





ce 


ce 
“cc 


ce 


ifs 


ce 


&e arcania—Melica nutans. 


corvinna—Triticum cespitosum, Carex gynomane. 
pamphilus—Poa, Anthoxanthum. 
tiphon—Festuca elatior. 


“ 


(12). Vanessa L. album—Hippophae rhamnoides, Gooseberry, Birch, 


Purple willow. 





(15). ‘¢  antiopa—Salix capreea. 

(32). Melitea maturna—Fagus sylvatica, Scabiosa. 
(34). ‘© cinxia—Alra canescens. 

(46). Zhecla W. album—Prunus spinosa. 


(47). “ iMicis—Quercus. 


<<  qguercus—Quercus. 


(59). Lycena icarus—Medicago minima. - 
. (67). “  semtargus—Anthyllis vulneraria. 
(86). Pieris daplidice-—Diplotaxis tenuifolia. 
. (87). Afporia crategi—Quercus. 


Thais polyxena—Quercus ilex. 


(97). Syrichtus malve—Fragraria vesca, Agrimonia eupatoria. 


Hesperia thaumas—Aira montana, Festuca, Phleum. 


- Zineola—Arrhenatherum avenacium. 


39. (100). Hesperia sylvanus—Avyena pratensis, Holcus lanatus, Festuca. 


128 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





MICRO - LEPIDOPTERA. 





BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY. 


(Continued from page 97.) 
COLEOPHORA. 


[Antennae and palpi both simple. | a 
C. selleriella. LN. sp. 


Slate color, tinged with ochreous; apex of the abdomen yellowish ; 
two longitudinal dusky lines on top of the abdomen, which, however, are 
invisible in the dead specimen. A/. ex. xs inch. Kentucky. 

The case is ochreous, slender, cylindrical, tapering a little to each 
end, and compressed or pinched at the posterior end, so as to divide it 
into three small ridges. It is about half an inch long, and was found 
adhering to the bark of sugar trees (Acer saccharinum.) 


C. argenti-albella. LN. sp. 


Silvery white; some parts of the legs and under surface tinged with 
yellowish. AZ. ex. #s inch. Kentucky. Larva and food plant unknown. 
The long, slender case was found adhering to the bark of beech trees 


(Fagus Americana ). 


C. gigantella. . sp. 


White, with seven longitudinal streaks upon the primaries, golden or 
ochreous yellow according to the hight; one extends from the base just 
within the costal margin to the beginning of the ciliae. Two other 
parallel and oblique ones from the base near the costa to the dorsal margin 
near the apex ; these are in the apical part of the wing, between the costal 
one and the first oblique one, and the seventh is within the fold, extending 
from the base to the dorsal ciliae. 


Al. ex. 5 inch. Collection of Mr. Wm. Saunders, London, Ont. 


C. aeneusella., IV. sp. 
Greenish bronzy; posterior wings pale fuscous. 4/ ex. 5 lines. 
Kentucky. 


This species belongs to the section constituting Stephens’ genus 
Metallosetia. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 129 





{Antennae simple, second joint of palpi tufted at the apex. | 


C. fagt-costicella. LN. sp. 

Yellowish white ; a pale ochreous yellow streak from the base along 
the middle of the wing to near the end of the disc, where it becomes 
furcate and passes on into pale ochreous yellow of the apex; dorsal 
margin pale ochreous yellow, and a pale ochreous yellow streak just 
within the costal margin. AZ ex.¥% inch. Kentucky. The streaks are 
-all obsolete or nearly so. 

The larva and food plant are unknown, and I am perhaps wrong in 
‘naming the species for the #adifa¢ in which I have always found the pupa. 
I have found it so invariably upon the bark of beech trees as to make 
me suspect that the larva feeds on beech leaves,or on the moss and lichens 
which grow upon the bark. The larva case is almost cylindrical, tapering 
-a little to each end, with a bent neck or tube at the anterior end, and 
compressed or pinched together at the other end, so as to be deeply con- 
‘Cave on the upper surface ; about the middle or just behind it its outer 
envelope is scalloped or serated so as to present three or four deep 
seratures or processes, looking as if the inside case had been inserted 
into the small bracts of a young leaf bud, from which the bud had first 
‘been removed. ; 


C. unicolorella. WN. sp. 

Entire insect grayish drab, unicolorous. AZ ex. i inch. Kentucky. 
Larva and food plant unknown. 

This can not be C. concolorella Clem., which is yellowish ochreous 
‘without markings. 


C. ciliwochrella. LN. sp. 


Silvery white, becoming gradually tinged with reddish ochreous to the 
apex of the primaries, the ciliae of which are distinctly reddish ochreous ; 
antennae alternately annulate with white and brownish yellow. <A/. ex. 5 
lines. The tuft on the palpal joint is very small. 


[Basal joint of the antennae with a small tuft ; palpi simple. ] 


C. rufo-luteella. LN. sp. 

Head white ; lower portion of the face tinged with yellowish; a spot 
on the vertex, and tuft of the basal joint of the antennae yellow ; antennz 
white, each joint annulate at its base with yellowish brown, and a few 
joints at the base entirely of that hue; thorax and anterior wings deep 


130 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


reddish orange, deeper, almost brown towards the apex; sides of the 
thorax and costal margin to the ciliz white. A/ ex. nearly % inch. 
Kentucky. Captured in June. 


[Basal half of the antennz thickened with scales ; palpi simple. | 
C. auropurpuriella. LN. sp. 


Entire insect, according to the light, golden brown or golden purple 
with a greenish bronzy hue, especially towards the apex of the primaries, 
where the greenish tinge is very decided; apical half of the antennae 
annulate with silvery white. AZ ex. cinch. Coll. Mr. Wm. Saunders, 
London, Ont. (Belongs to Metallosetia, Steph.) 

[Basal joint of the antennae thickened with scales ; palpi tufted. | 

C. lineapulvella. LN. sp. 

White, faintly tinged with ochreous yellow ; dorsal margin and apex 
of the primaries more distinctly yellowish ; two rather indistinct ochreous. 
yellow lines begin before the middle of the wing and pass back, one to 
the apex and one to the dorsal margin before the apex, the apical line 
giving off a faint branch to the costal margin. Ciliae pale ochreous ; the 
entire wing, except near the base, dusted with dark brown specks, which 
are arranged in lines more or less parallel to each other; antennae 
annulate with ochreous yellow. <A/. ex. 5 lines. Kentucky. ‘Taken at 
the lamp. 

I have taken on the wing many other species, but I refrain from 
describing them until their food plants are known, a plan which I had 
perhaps also better have adopted with some of the above, for many of the 
species of this genus resemble each other so closely that it is well nigh 
impossible to give written descriptions by which they can be identified. 





Sicns Usep To DENoTE SEx.—I have often been puzzled to account 
for the origin of the signs in use among naturalists to denote the male ( f) 
and the female ( ? ) sexes; but the other day, while reading an astronomical 
paper, I came across a fact which seems to offer a solution of the difficulty. 
It appears that the first sign (#) has been used from remote antiquity to 
signify the planet Mars, and is a rude representation of a spear behind a 
shield, fit emblems of the God of War. Ceres, the goddess of corn, was 
similarly symbolized by the sign used in zoology to denote the female sex, 
with this slight difference, that in the original astronomical sign, the con- 
tinuity of the circle is broken on the left side, so that the figure appropriately 
represents a sickle.—Z. C. Lefroy in Hardwicke’s Science Gossip. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. LST 


ONE W:O SPECIES (OF aa G ROT 1IS,j4 LEED ee 
A. FRIASGULUM: 


BY AUG. R. GROTE, 
Curator of Articulata, Buffalo Soc. of Natural Sciences. 


Among the material submitted to me for determination by Professor 
Packard, from the Peabody Academy of Science, are specimens from 
Maine and Massachusetts of two species of Agroftis allied to, but distinct 
from A. ¢riangulum. 


Agrotis attentus. lL. sp. 


The eyes are naked. The middle and hind tibiae are armed, but the 
fore tibiae are without spines; male antennae simple, bristled and 
pubescent. Fore wings pulverulent brown, paler over the costal region,. 
on which the inception of the geminate lines are marked in dark brown.. 
There is a narrow deep brown basal ray extending to the dentate indistinct 
t.a.line. Disc not suffused with darker brown between the ordinary 
spots, which are moderate, pale, with fine dark annuli. Orbicular 
spherical, complete, not pointed inferiorly, as in ¢riangulum. ‘T. p. line 
with its pale centre alone perceivable, denticulated, notched opposite the 
cell. The subterminal space is not differentiated by any darker tint ; the 
subterminal line is pale, preceded at costa by a very slightly darker brown 
shade, not always noticeable, and not at all like the determinate mark of 
triangulum. Male hind wings almost whitish ; female darker. Thorax 
and head like fore wings. Beneath the fore wings are brown, with the 
exterior line indicated ; hind wings with brown costal region, else pale, 
with faint discal spot and a double subterminal line marked on the costal 
region. Maine; two specimens ; expanse, 36 m. m. 


Agrotis perattentus. LV. sp. 

Eyes naked; fore tibiae unarmed, middle and hind tibiae spinose; 
male antennae simple, bristled and pubescent. Color of A. attentus, but 
brighter, rosy brown and more like ¢riangulum, on account of the discal 
field before the orbicular and between the spots being suffused with dark 
brown shading. Orbicular spherical, pale ; claviform indicated in out- 
line ; a deep brown shading accompanies the basal dash. Reniform large 
and wider than in ¢vzangu/um. Ordinary lines distinct, geminate, dark 
brown ; t. p. line with its inner line distinct, lunulate ; its outer line lost 


132 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


against the darker brown subterminal space, which is differentiated by its 
deeper color and which it inwardly limits. Subterminal line indicated by 
the difference in color between the subterminal and terminal spaces, the 
latter concolorous with the rest of the wing. Hind wings pale testaceous 
fuscous in #, more fuscous in 2. Beneath a common fuscous line and 
dots ; the tint is testaceous, with fuscous powdering; fore wings the 
-darker, with ruddy costal edge. Mass.; Me.; expanse, 32 to 36 m. m. 

Both these species are slighter bodied than the European A. “72- 
angudum, and differ in ornamentation by the shape of the ordinary spots, 
the conformation of the t. p. line, and the pallor of the hind wings. 

Mamestra renigera (Steph.) 

This species, referred in my “ List” to Hadena (p. 16), belongs to 

Mamestra, and should be interpolated on page 13 1. c., between JZ 
cinnabarina and AL. laudabilts. 


NOTES ON THE LARVA OF LEUCANIA. PSEUDARGYRI 
GUENEE. 


BY F. B. CAULFIELD, MONTREAL, P. Q. 


On April 18th of this season, while searching for insects on Montreal 
Mountain, I found under a stone at the foot of a hickory tree, a larva, of 
which the following is a description : 

Length two inches. Form cylindrical, slightly annulated. Head 
reddish yellow, with two brown streaks,and marbled with lines and dots 
of the same color; semi-transparent, shiny, slightly bilobed, with a few 
scattered hairs of a whitish brown color. Mandibles brown. 

Body above dirty greenish grey, with darker spots and blotches, a 
faint white dorsal line, and another of the same color a little above the 
spiracles ;_ sides light greenish grey, minutely spotted with brown, with a 
few scattered hairs of a brown color, tipped with yellowish white, Under- 
surface, feet and prolegs very light greenish grey. 

I placed this larva ina box with some earth,but owing to the backward- 
ness of the season I could not find any food for it. It went under the 
earth on April 21st, and turned to a chrysalis on April 23rd. The imago 
emerged on May z2oth, and proved to be Leucania pseudargyria, Guen. 

That this larva hybernated there can be no doubt, and I believe, as a 
rule, that those larvee which lie dormant during the winter, when spring 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Too 





comes, feed again for a short time before changing to chrysalis, but this 
instance proves that food is not always necessary to them after they have 
hybernated, as there was not even a bud to be seen when I found it. Of 
course under its natural conditions it would have partaken of some food 
as soon as vegetation appeared, otherwise it would have pupated in the 
autumn. This deviation from the usual habit may be attributed to its 
changed conditions, the warmth of the house hastening its’ trans-. 
formations. 


FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE 
MONTREAL BRANCH OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 


During the summer of 1873 a fortunate circumstance occurred to 
which this Branch owes its origin. The following gentlemen, viz., Wm. 
Couper, F. B. Caulfield, Wm. Hibbins, C. W. Pearson and G. B. Pearson, 
met by chance on the Montreal Mountain, where the subject was 
discussed, and it was then decided to hold a meeting at the residence of 
Mr. Caulfield, in order to make further arrangements for its formation. 
This meeting was held on the 30th of August, when it was resolved to. 
form a branch in connection with the Entomological Society of Ontario, 
and the Secretary fro. fem. was instructed to write to the parent society, 
asking permission to form a Branch Society in this city. This proposition 
Was at once accepted by the parent Society. 


On the 16th of October the following officers were elected for the 
ensuing year :—William Couper, President ; M. Kollmar, Vice-President ;, 
F, B. Caulfield, Secretary-Treasurer ; Council—G. J. Bowles, P. Knetzing 
and C. W. Pearson ; Curator, William Hibbins. 


By-Laws were framed for the guidance of the Branch, which were 
approved by the parent Society. Our monthly meetings have been 
regularly held and well attended, and your Council congratulate the 
Society on the benefits derived. During the eight meetings which have been 
held, independent of the production of original communications on 
Entomology, there were remarkably good exhibitions of insects, which. 
also tended to give additional information to members. 


134 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








The first meeting of the Branch in August, 1873, consisted of seven 
members, and since then five additional members have been elected. 


The following papers were read during the winter months : 


‘<A Dissertation on Northern Butterflies,” by William Couper; ‘ On 
the Cicindelidae Occurring on the Island of Montreal,” by F. B. Caulfield ; 
“On Some of the Benefits Derived from Insects,” by F. B. Caulfield. 

The following works have been donated during the year : 


‘“On Some Remarkable Forms of Animal Life from the Great Deeps 
of the Norwegian Coast,” by G. O. Sars, 1 vol.;. “ On Norwegian 
Crustaceans,” by G. O. Sars, 2 vols.; “Synopsis of the Acrididae of 
North America,” by Cyrus Thomas, 1 vol. 

Your Council would suggest that the Curator procure store boxes for 
the preservation of the specimens obtained for the Society during the 
approaching season. In this way the nucleus of a collection can be 
formed prior to the purchase of a cabinet, which your Council trusts the 
Society will be possessed of before next winter. 


Your Council would also suggest that members carry note-books 
wherein to record Entomological observations, especially relative to 
insects injurious to the crops; also of such species as are considered 
beneficial in checking the progress of destructive insects. As this is one 
of the principal objects of the Society, field notes of this nature are | 
always valuable, and should form subjects of investigation and discussion 
at our meetings. Attention should be given to the larval forms of insects, 
as this is a specialty of Entomology from which much knowledge is yet to 
be obtained. 


Your Council strongly impress on the members to use their influence 
in promoting a knowledge of the importance of the study of Entomology, 
more especially with agriculturists and horticulturists, in crder to enable 
them to check the ravages of the numerous insects injurious to vege- 


tation. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 


Wo. CouPER, C. W. PEARSON, 
Chairman. GEO. JNo. BowLes. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ke 


ee _______ eee 





NOTES ON THE SPECIES. OF OODII OF LOUISIANA. 


BY S. V. SUMMERS, M. D., NEW ORLEANS, LA. 


The species belonging to this sub-tribe, although small in number, 
rank with the rarer forms of Carabidz ; they may easily he known by their 
glabrous body and the confluent eighth and ninth strize of the elytra. 
Several of the Oodii bear a superficial resemblance to certain Amara 
allied to fallax. With one exception (O. eegans) the species are all 
Atlantic, occurring more abundantly southward. Oodes fluvialis must be 
considered a typical northern species, occurring rarely near St. Louis, 
Mo., but more abundant at Rock Island, Ill. O. elegans has occurred 
with Dr. Le Conte along the Gila River, in Arizona. We may expect 
additional species from the Southern Pacific region and the western source 
of the Rio Grande. 


Lachnocrepis parallelus (Say). 


A single ~ specimen taken in November, under a partially submerged 
log on the Jackson R. R., near New Orleans. Dr. Horn gives the length 
0.42 inch (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., v. 3, p. 106); my specimen measures 
0.44 inch long. Color black, somewhat shiny ; basal angles of thorax 
reddish brown. I have not been able to find this species in any of the 
New Orleans collections. I have seen one in Mr. Trabrandt’s cabinet, 
from Mexico, near the Rio Grande. 


Anatrichis minuta (Dej.) a4: _ 

Our smallest Oodii; length, o.20--0.25 inch. Rather rare. Specimens 
taken adhering to under surface of logs near streams, and on sifting mud 
from roots of plants over water, This species seems not to have occurred 
in Louisiana collections before last winter. 


Oodes amaroides (Dej.) 


Length, 0.34-0.40 inch. More than twenty specimens taken in galleries 
under logs, in very damp or muddy places. The species of the sub-genus 
Oodes (Chaudoir), have the ability to remain under water for nearly an hour 
at a time, and are seldom found running on the ground. 


Oodes Americanus (Dej.) 


Length, 0.58 inch. Asingle # taken under a rail on the Ponchartrain 
R. R. Several others occur with Mr. Trabrandt. Our largest and rarest 


136 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





species ; none of my /uvialis measure over 0.52 inch. Dr. Horn gives. 
this and the preceding species as 0.50 inch long (avzte. ) 


Oodes cupreus (Chaud.) 

Several specimens taken by Mr. Trabrandt. I have found this species. 
pretty common near St. Louis, Mo., on baling water over mud flats. They 
take flight very readily, and may be found running on the ground on warm 
days, but I have never been able to find them or Zeconfet remain under 
water longer than most Carabide. The La. specimen before me is greatly 
mutilated, and I am reluctant to give its measurement. The Missouri 
species give o.40 inch long. 


Oodes Lecontet (Chaud.) 

Length, f,0.36inch; ,0.40 inch. Not rare. Many specimens taken 
under logs near water on bailing near the shore; also running on the ground 
in July and August. Itis amore robust species than cupraeus, less shining 
and with punctured striz. A single specimen taken somewhere on the 
coast of Miss., during the stoppage of steamer to ‘wood up,” in June. 


Oodes 14-striatus (Chaud.) 


Length, 0.42--0.47 inch. Common. everywhere near N. O. during the- 
summer; found under logs and running on the ground near water, and 
frequently under loose bark in the woods. ‘The specimens have a 
decidedly greenish tinge when alive. ‘They are not as active as the Oodes 
and Stenous groups. Mr. Trabrandt informs me that they do not occur: 
abundantly every year. They are also found in Texas and Mexico. 


Oodes texanus, Lec. e 


Length, 0.42 inch— ~. A single specimen taken by C. Trabrandt 
while collecting together, and given me as a r4¢-striatus, from which it is at 
once distinguished by the punctured striz. ‘The specimen occurred under 
some rail-road ties on the Ponchartrain R. R., on high ground, not near 
water. Dulligent search has sinced failed to discover others. 


Livolenes tmpressus, Lec. 


Length, 0.37 inch— 2. A single specimen taken near New Orleans. 
and given me by Mr. Em. Trochammur. ‘This is the rarest Oodii occurring 
in La. Any enlargement on descriptions of species would seem out of 
place, but would refer all to Dr. Horn’s admirable and complete synopsis. 
in Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., Vol. 3, No. 2, 1870. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 





Crinus scrophularia, Auct. 


A unique of this European Curculio was taken on wood wharf, June 
30th. There can be little doubt of the correctness of this determination. 
My specimen is 0.16 inch long (exclusive of rostrum). Body black. 
Rostrum shorter than thorax, slightly arcuate; antenne inserted about 
two thirds from tip, piceous; club somewhat paler. Thorax much narrower 
than base of elytra, covered with dense prostrate yellowish hairs, and with 
an elevated transverse ridge at middle ; elytra somewhat triangular, black- 
ish, coarsely punctured and with four black longitudinal vitte, dotted with 
whitish. A rather large, oblong, dense black spot, margined posteriorly 
with whitish hairs, placed on the suture, near the scutellum, and a similar 
but smaller spot at apex. Legs blackish, more or less speckled with 
whitish hairs. 


ANTICOSTL C@EEOPTERA: 


COLLECTED ON THE ISLAND IN 1873; BY WM. COUPER, MONTREAL. 
(As determined by J. L. Leconte, M. D.) 


Notiophilus sibiricus, AMofsch. 
Carabus palustris, Fischer. 

“«  lapilayi, Laporte. 
Calathus ingratus, Dez. 

-. |» econtiysus, .L¢¢. 
Pterostichus coracinus, Lec. 

= Juczoti, Lec. 
Harpalus pleuriticus, Azrdy. 
Boletobius pygmaeus, Jann. 
Creophilus villosus, A7z7dy. 
Anthobium dimidiatum, Meds. 
Necrophorus vespilloides, Herbst. 

. mortuorum (pygmaeus), 
Kirby. 

Hydnobius substriatus, Lec. 
Epuraea boreella, £7. 
Omosita colon, £7. 
Byrrhus americanus, Lec. | 
Heterocerus substriatus, Aves. 
Aphodius fimetarius, 77. 

‘- —ruricola, Meds. 

¢  granarius,var. spretus, (add. 


Chrysobothris trinervia, Lez. 
Elater mixtus, Zee. 

Agriotes fucosus, Lec. 
Limonius quercinus, De. 
Sericosomus incongruus, Lec. 
Corymbites resplendens, Zsch. 

“« aeineicollis(Kendalli), Azrdy. 

“_. spmosus, Lec; 

“<. aiatusa&. 

Eros coccinatus, Say. 
Podabrus basillaris, Say. 

“  Jaevicollis, Azrdy. 
Telephorus fraxini, Say. 
Dolichosoma foveicollis, Azrby. 
Hadrobregmus foveatus, Azrdy. 
Spondylus upiformis, JZann. 
Criocephalus agrestis, Azrdy. 
Pachyta monticola, Rand. 
Acmaeops pratensis (strigilata.) 
Leptura pedalis. 

Donacia emarginata, Azrdy. 
Syneta tripla, Say. 


138 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





Pachybrachis atomarius, Jes. Dendroctonus rufipennis. 
Bromius vitis, adr. Amara, not determined. 

Anaspis rufa, Say. Cyphon, indeterminate. 
Hylobius pinicola, Couper. Graptodera, not named. 
Dryocaetus septentrionis, //és¢. Ceutorhynchus, not determined. 


ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 


17.—THE CURRANT GEOMETER OR MEASURING WORM 
—Ellopia (abraxis) ribearia, Fitch. 


BY, THE EDITOR: 


This insect is now becoming very abundant in most parts of Ontario, 
and is a very troublesome pest. Its peculiar mode of progression will 
enable one to readily distinguish it from the common Saw-fly caterpillar, 
for, having its feet placed at each extremity, it arches its body into a sort 
of loop at every step, and is hence popularly called a measuring worm or 
span worm. 

Fig. 22 (after Riley) shows this caterpillar in various attitudes. At 
2 it is represented hanging from a silken thread which it has the power of 

Fig: 22. spinning at will, and by means 
of which it is enabled to lower 
itself suddenly from the bush 
when danger threatens, and re- 
mains suspended in mid air until 
it can safely return to its former 
position. When full grown, it 
measures an inch ora little more 
in length... ‘Its head sisuerea 
medium size, white, bilobed with 
a large round black spot on the 
upper part of each lobe, a short 
black stripe across the front, a 
S little above the mouth, with a 
small spot of the same color on 
each side of it ; there are alsoa 
few short black hairs scattered 
over its surface ; jaws black. 
The body above is whitish, with 
a number of black spots of different sizes on each ring or segment ; there 


‘i 
iM 
NS 
NS 


SE EEN 6) 





21. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 139 





is a wide yellow stripe down the back, and another of the same character 
along each side, but somewhat broken. The under side is white, with a 
‘slight tinge of pink, and also spotted with black, with a wide yellow stripe 
down the middle. The feet are blackish; prolegs yellow, dotted with 
black. 


When full grown, the larva descends to the earth and buries itself a 
little below the surface, where it is transformed into a dark brown chrysalis 
about half an inch long, and remains in this inactive state from two to 
three weeks. 


The moth, see fig. 23 (after Riley), is of a pale yellowish color, with 
‘several dusky spots varying in size, form and distinctness in different 
specimens ; sometimes they are so arranged as Fig. 23. 
to form one or two irregular bands across the 
wings; when these latter are expanded they 
Measure about 1% inches. Soon after the 
moths escape they pair and shortly the female 
-deposits her eggs on the twigs and branches of 
the gooseberry and currant bushes, where it is 
‘said they remain unchanged until the following spring. 





This insect is a native of America, and was formerly confined to the 
wild gooseberry and currant bushes, on which we still occasionally see 
them. The larvae are found in various stages of their growth, from the 
Ist to about the 2oth of June, and will feed on the black currant as well 
.as on the red and white currant and gooseberry. The moths begin to 
appear during the first days of July, and are very common for two or three 
weeks following. 

Powdered hellebore mixed with water and used with a watering pot, 
or Paris green mixed with twenty times its weight of flour and dusted on 
the bushes, will be found effectual remedies for the destruction of this 
caterpillar. The habit it has of letting itself down from the bush with a 
silken thread, and remaining suspended, may also be turned to practical 
account in its capture, for if, after tapping the infested bushes, a forked 
stick or some similar instrument is passed under it, all the hanging threads 
may be caught and the larvae drawn out in groups and crushed with the 
foot. 


140 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





EDITORIAL SUMMARY. 

We have been kindly favored with a copy of the ‘ Sixth Annual Report: 
on the Noxious, Beneficial and Other Insects of the State of Missouri,” by 
C. V. Riley, State Entomologist, 8vo., pp. 160, with 55 illustrations. Both 
entomologists and agriculturists are laid under lasting obligations to Mr. 
Riley for these excellent yearly reports on the life history and depredations. 
of many of our insects. The present Report opens with ‘‘ Notes of the 
Year,” under which heading there are given some practical observations. 
on the Codling Moth, the Colorado Potato Beetle and the Cotton Worm. 
Next follows a lengthy and exhaustive chapter of 56 pages on the Grape 
Phylloxera, in which is brought together in a consecutive form all the 
facts hitherto published in reference to this interesting insect. The Blue 
Caterpillars of the Vine then claim attention, each species being nicely 
illustrated. Detailed accounts are given also of Ham Beetles,the Clover 
Worm, the legged Maple Borer, the Raspberry Root Borer, the Northern. 
Brenthian and the Jumping Sumach Beetle. A chapter on Beneficial 
Insects is next in order, in which the life history of a parasite on the 
common white grub is detailed. Then follow observations on the 
Dominican Case Bearer, the Yucca Moth, Hackberry Butterflies, closing 
with an interesting chapter on the Katydids. Mr. Riley seems admirably 
adapted to fill the position in which he has been placed, and we sincerely 
hope he may long be spared to prosecute the work he loves so well. 

INTERESTING CapTruREs.—Mr. F. C. Lowe, of Dunnville, has recently 
been on a collecting tour in the county of Essex, and we have been 
favored with a sight of some of his captures. Among the more interesting 
insects secured, we would especially mention a very handsome and perfect 
specimen of Papilio marcellus, with the ground color an unusually fine 
pale green. Mr. Lowe saw three of these insects on the wing in the 
neighborhood of North Ridge, about four miles from Essex Centre, on 
the Canada Southern R. R, but only succeeded in capturing one of them.. 
Papilio thoas—several taken. ‘This insect was quite common in almost 
every clover field in that neighborhood. Mr. Lowe took two specimens 
of thoas last season on the River St. Clair, near Port Lambton. Zhyreus 
nessus also common in clover fields ; esp. oileus, several specimens ; also: 
the following, all captured between the roth and 2oth June: reba 
nephele, common; Ludamus tityrus, common; Papilio turnus and P. 
troilus ; Nisoniades catullus, not rare ; M. tharos, common; 2. Americana, 
common ; /Zfesp. bathylus, rather plentiful ; esp. zabulon, very common, 
LVisoniades perstus, Trichius bidens and Desmocerus palliatus. 


Che Canadian Entomologist, 


VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., AUGUST, 1874. ‘No. 8 


ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 





I8.— THE SPOTTED PELIDNOTA—Felidnota punctata, Linn. 


BY THE EDITOR. 


This large and handsome beetle is an enemy to the grape vine. It 
attacks the foliage, eating numerous holes in the leaves, and sometimes 


Fig. 24. 


when the beetles are abun- 
dant, completely riddling 
them. Damage from this 
cause to any great extent is 
however, fortunately of rare 
occurrence; in most instances 
the beetles are not numerous, 
but even where only occasion- 
ally met with, their size and 
beauty will always attract 
notice. 


In the accompanying figure 
24 (after Riley) this insect 
ss is shown in its three stages of 
larva (a), chrysalis (4), and beetle (c) ; it is in the latter state only that 
it is injurious to the vine. 





The beetle measures about one inch in length, and half an inch in 
width at its widest part, is nearly oval in form and of a dull reddish yellow 
color, with a polished surface. The thorax, which is slightly darker than 
the wing covers, has a small black spot on each side, and there are three 
larger ones on each wing case. The jaws and posterior part of the head 
are both black; so also is the scutellum, which is a small,nearly triangular 
piece placed near the centre above, just where the two anterior edges of 


142 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


the wing cases join the thorax. The transparent gauzy wings, which are 
concealed when not in flight under the wing cases, are dark brown. The 
under side of the beetle is of a dark green shade, with a metallic lustre 
and downy about the middle, with fine brownish hairs; legs dark shining 
green. 


It appears with us during July and August, and is moderately active 
during the day time, flying about from vine to vine with a heavy awkward 
flight and loud buzzing noise. After pairing, the female deposits her 
eggs in rotten wood, on which the grub, when hatched, feeds; the decaying 
stumps and exposed roots of different trees are usually selected for this 
purpose. Mr. Riley, of St. Louis, Mo., was the first to describe this 
larva, and we quote his description as given in the American Entomolo- 
Mis, Vl 2, p. 205°: 


“Tt is a large, clumsy grub, bearing a close resemblance to the 
common white grub of our meadows, and differs from that species 
principally in having the skin more polished and of a purer white color, 
and in the distinct heart-shaped swelling above the anus, fig. 24, d. 
Towards the latter part of June we have found this larva (fig. 24, @), in 
common with the pupa (4), in rotten stumps and roots of the pear. In 
preparing for the pupa state the larva forms a rather unsubstantial cocoon 
of its own excrement, mixed with the surrounding wood. The pupa 
state lasts but from eight to ten days, and the beetle (c) 1s found on our 
vines during the months of July, August and September. - It is not yet 
known how long a time is required for the developement of the larva, but 
from analogy we may infer that the insect lives in that state upwards of 
three years.” 


In the figure, e shows the antenna of the larva, and / one of the legs 
—both magnified. 


This insect in our Domtnion is confined mainly to the province of 
Ontario, and prevails most in the western section. We are notaware of 
its having been found at allin Quebec. It is common in most of the 
Western and Eastern States. Should it become sufficiently numerous in 
any section to excite alarm, it may readily be checked by hand picking ; 
the insect being heavy and clumsy in its movements, may be easily 
captured and destroyed. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 143 





THE LINNEAN SIGNIFICATION OF THE GENERIC 
TERM PAPILIO. 


BY SAMUEL H. SCUDDER, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


Perhaps no part of my “ Systematic Revision of Some of the American 
Butterflies” has been more severely criticized than the restoration of the 
Linnean name Papilio to one of the nymphalideous butterflies, Antiopa. 
The principal objection made to this change, besides the fact that it runs 
counter to the current of modern usage, being that it violates the idea of 
the genus as it lay in the mind of its founder. The attention of those 
interested is called to the following historical facts, not given in the 
Revision. 

The name Papilio was established by Linné in the first edition of his 
Systema Nature, in 1735*, where the following division occurs : 


ANGIOPTERA. 


Alae omnibus date, elytris destitute. 
PapiLio. Restrum spirale, alae 4. Papilio alis erectis. 


Psyche alis planis. 
Phalaena alis compressis. 


Here the typical Papiliones are the butterflies in general. The 
succeeding genera of Angioptera are Lebellula, Ephemera, Hemerobtus, 
Panorpa, Raphidia, Apis, Lchneumon and Musca. 

In the second edition of the same work (1740) we find the following 
on p. 60: 

153- Papitio. Cauda simplex, alae iv. Rostrum spirale seu nullum. 

Pap. antennis clavatis, pedibus 4. 

6, alis erectis angulatis. 
“: - . 6, os rotundatis. 
6, alis patentibus. 

6, alis reflexis. 

Pap. ore spirale, antennis subulatis. 


= cs < barbatis. 
& ““nnlle: re subulatis. 
S - ee barbatis. 





* JT have only been able to consult Fee’s reprint, Paris, 1830, p. 76. 


144 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


The butterflies with aborted front legs (¢. e., Nymphales) are: here: 
placed at the head of the series. 
The third edition (1740) was but a reprint of the first, for German 
students. 
The following arrangement occurs on p. 94 of the fourth edition 
(1744.) : 
160. PapiLio. Antenne clavate. 


P.pedibus, 4. 


6¢ 6, alis erectis angulatis. | 
ES 6, 5 rotundatis. > le Papillon. 
és 6, alis patentibus. | 
ee 6, alis reflexis. | 


Here Papilio is stlll further restricted, always in the direction of the 
butterflies, and those with atrophied front legs are still at the head of the 
series. 

In the year 1746 the first edition of the Fauna Suecica was published,. 
in which Linné for the first time treats of species, giving to them names 
in the language of the country. The butterflies are found on pp. 232- 
248, and are divided into two groups, as follows : 


[232.|* Pedibus quaternis unguiculatis. 
[240.]** Pedibus sex unguiculatis. 


The so-called tetrapods still at the summit. Thespecies are numbered 
from 772 to 807; the species afterwards named aztiopa is No. 772 ; that 
called machaon, No. 791. 


In the fifth edition of the Systema Nature (1747), under Gymnaptera, 
p. 68, is an exact repetition of what is found in the second edition. 


The sixth edition (1748) contains the following on p. 63: 
185. PapiLio. Antenne clavate. 


1. Papilio pedibus 4, alis erectis angulatis. morio Fn. 772. 
polychloros Fn. 773. 
urticana Fn. 774. 
C. duplex Fn. 775. 
oculis pavonis Fn. 776. 
ammiralis Fn. 777. 
belladonna Fn. 778. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 145 





2. Papilio pedibus 4, alis erectis rotundatis. | imperator Fn. 779. 
comes Fn. 783. 


3. Papilio pedibus 6, alis erectis angulatis. regina Fn. 791. 
canicularis Fn. 795. 
4. Papilio pedibus 6, alis erectis rotundatis. _ brassicaria Fn. 799. 


aurora Fn. 801, 
alpicola Fn. 802. 

argus Fn. 803-806. 
butyracea Fn. 807, 808. 


Here not only are the four-footed butterflies placed first, but, as in the 
‘Fauna Suecica, “ morio” (i. e., anttopa) heads the list, followed directly 
by the butterflies most closely allied to it—folychloros, urtice, c-album, to, 
atalanta and cardut, in the same order as they occur in the Fauna Suecica, 
sto which the numbers on the right refer. 


In the seventh edition (1748), exactly the same is found on p. 63. 
The eighth edition contains no animals. 


In the ninth edition (1756) we find precisely the same as in the sixth 
excepting in the first line, which reads, p. 69 : 


196. Papitio. Antenne clavate. \e Papillon. 


Not until the tenth edition (1758) of his great work, did Linné place 
the “swallow-tails” at the head of the genus Papilio, in the order too 
well known to require repetition here. In view of these facts, it is worth 
enquiring: In Linné’s mind, which was a ¢ypical Papilio—Antiopa or 
Machaon? and was there, or was there not, any reason for specially 
selecting Antiopa as the type of Papilio, when it was found, in 1872, that 
‘by Schrank’s first limitation of the genus, in 1801, it must be applied to 
-some one of the Nymphales? 


ENTOMOBOGCICAEL NOTES: 
BY W. V. ANDREWS, NEW YORK. 


Mr. J. E. Fletcher has a note in the March No. of Newman's Ento- 
mologist, on “ Controlling Sex‘in Lepidoptera.” He says: ‘‘ During last 
summer, I had a few larve of Exapate congeatella feeding on privet ; as I 
“was greatly occupied with other things, they were neglected ; the supply 


146 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





of food was very irregularly given and short in quantity, yet the moths 
produced from them consisted of four males, full sized, and eleven 
females, some of these latter being much below the average of the species 
im-size.+ 

I presume that the reason Mr. Fletcher supposed that the result may 
have been very different was because he had read in “Newman” the 
result of an experiment performed by an American lady, I think Mrs. 
Treat, who, having underfed a lot of larvee, succeeded in producing all 
males, the inference drawn being that males were simply underfed 
females. I wrote some notes on this subject for “ Newman,” thinking 
that Mrs. Treat’s paper had appeared originally in that publication. It 
seems, however, that it did not, and I now reproduce the substance of 
those notes here, as more likely to meet the eyes of all concerned. 


First, then, I would remark that this clearly is not Nature’s method of 
“controling sex.” IPf a batch of larvae, say of V. antiopa, all feed on the 
same elm, there will be produced both males and females, although the 
feeding must be alike for all. But there is an excellent opportunity 
afforded Mrs. Treat of testing the value of her theory, by the larva of 
Thyreus Abbottii (Swains.) It is well known that the male larva of this 
species is altogether different in color from that of the female, so the 
sexes are easily distinguished. 


Now, if Mrs. Treat will take the female larve, and by underfeeding it 
produce male imagines, the thing will be more satisfactory. I am not 
unaware that in Hymenoptera food is said to have a good deal to do with 
the production of sex, but still Mrs. Treat’s experiment cannot be con- 
sidered as conclusive. 

Hasty generalization is a fault to which we are very liable, and 
doubtless the ambition to discover a new law is very laudable. A case 
of this nature occurs in your No. 5, vol. 6. Ina paperappearing in that 
number, Mr. Gentry, of Germantown, fancies he has discovered the law 
which produces difference of color in caterpillars of the same species. 
Now, to be of any value, thisdaw must be universal, and the facts of the 
case do not show any such universality. Mr. Gentry thinks that the 
difference in color and markings where this occurs is attributable to the 
difference in the chemical constituents of the food plant at different 
seasons of the year. He selects as one instance the larva of LZacles 
emperialis, and gives, correctly enough, three varieties of color. _ But, 
unfortunately, these varieties occur at one part of the season as well as at 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 147 








another, and the varieties may be found feeding on the same tree. How, 
then, can the food have anything to do with the variation? Lacles 
imperialis is single brooded with us, but still the larva is found in August 
as well as in October, and no difference in color is observable at one time 
more than another. Ina previous number I related an experiment made 
with a brood of zerialis, and, in that case, every one of the larvae were 
dark. 


The chemistry of biology is doubtless a very abstruse subject, but it is 
well worth any labor that may be bestowed on its investigation. The 
larva of A. luna feeding, say, on Sweet Gum, produces an insect of a 
beautiful green color. That of Zacles imperialis, feeding on the same 
food, produces an insect of which yellow and purple are the predominant 
colors, while that of vegalis produces an imago yellow and red. Here are 
larvae all similarly constituted as regards masticatory and digestive 
powers, and the substance acted upon is the same in each case, and yet 
how different is the result. This is very wonderful. What is there in the 
constitution of the digestive organs of these respective larvae that enables 
one to eliminate this color, and another that ? Of course similar results 
may be observed in other animals, and the same beefsteak may contribute 
to the growth of a negro as well as of a white man, but still this does not 
diminish the difficulty we have in understanding how it is done. Ento- 
mology is a fascinating pursuit, looked at as merely an amusement, but I 
have an abiding faith that it is destined to throw more light on the 
phenomena of life than perhaps any other branch of science can. But 
we must avoid hasty conclusions. 


I have selected only one instance from Mr. Gentry’s paper, but there 
are others. For example, the same objections may be made in the case 
of Sphinx 5-maculata as are made in that of zmperialis. The different 
colors appear at the same season, and may be found feeding on the same 
tomato plant. 


ON THE LARVA OF CATOCALA ULTRONIA, Husy. 
BY THE EDITOR. 


For several years past, while jarring our plum trees for Curculio in 
June, we have taken the larva of a Catocala usually less than half grown, 
but have never succeeded in rearing any of them until this season, when 


148 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


from three larvee taken on the 16th of June, one has been successfully 
brought through its various stages, and proves to be w/fronia. 


The following description was taken at the time of its capture, when 
it was nearly full grown. 


Length 1-60 inches, onisciform. 


Head medium sized, flattened in front, slightly bilobed, dull bluish 
grey, with the front flattened portion margined with a purplish-black 
stripe. Under a lens the surface appears thickly dotted with pale and 
dark colored dots and streaks, with a few short, pale, scattered hairs. 


Body above dark dull grayish brown, appearing under a magnifying 
power thickly studded with brownish dots ona paler ground. Second 
segment a little paler than the others. A sub-dorsal row of dull reddish 
tubercles, one on each segment from second to fourth inclusive, but 
behind this there are two on each ring to the twelfth segment inclusive, 
the anterior one being the smallest, while the posterior and largest tubercle 
is more decidedly red, all encircled with a slight ring of black at their 
base. On the ninth segment above there is a prominent, nearly upright 
stout, fleshy horn, about one-twelfth of an inch long, pointed and similar 
in color to the body, but with an irregular grayish patch at each side. On 
the twelfth segment the two hinder tubercles are somewhat increased in 
size and united by a low ridge, tinted behind with deep reddish brown ; 
there is also an oblique stripe of the same color extending forward from 
the base of the tubercles to near the spiracle on this segment. The 
terminal segment is flattened and has a number of small pale reddish and 
blackish tubercles scattered over its surface. In front of each of the 
smaller sub-dorsal tubercles, from fifth to twelfth segments inclusive, there 
isa dull white dot, and one also of a similar character in front of each of 
the spiracles along the middle segments of the body ; from each of the 
tubercles throughout there arises a single dark short hair. Spiracles 
large, oval, dull grayish, faintly encircled with black. Along the sides 
of the body, close to the under surface, is a thick fringe of short, fleshy 
looking hairs of a delicate pink color. 


The under surface is also of a delicate pink, of a deeper shade 
along the middle, becoming bluish towards the margins, with a central row 
of nearly round, velvetty black spots, which are largest from the seventh 
to the eleventh segments, inclusive. The anterior segments are greenish 
white, tinted with rosy pink along the middle, with a dull reddish spot at 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 149 


tthe base and behind each pair of feet. Feet pale greenish, spotted out- 
side and tipped with black; prolegs dull greyish brown, margined with 
black. 

This larva became a pupa on the 21st of June, and remained in this 
-state for twenty-four days, producing the imago on the 15th of July. 


MICRO - LESIDOPTERA. 


————— 


BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY. 
(Continued from page 130.) 


ASPIDISCA. 


For the purpose of comparing it with the other species, I quote here 
Dr. Clemens’ description of 


_ A. splendoriferella. 


“ Head golden; antenne fuscous, tinged with golden. Fore wings 
from the base to the middle leaden grey, with a splendant lustre, and 
from the middle to the tip golden, with a broad, nearly straight, metallic, 
silvery streak, extending from the costa, near the tip, to the middle of the 
wing, and dark margined on both sides. This is nearly joined by a dorsal 
streak of the same hue, almost opposite to it, with converging dark 
margins, and with a blotch of dark brown scales adjoining it behind. In 
the costo-apical cilia is a short, blackish brown streak, parallel to the 
dark margin of the silvery costal streak. At the tip is a black, apical 
spot, with metallic, silvery scales in its centre, and a few silvery scales in 
the ciliae above and beneath it. <A blackish brown hinder marginal line 
in the ciliae, interrupted by a silvery streak in the ciliae beneath the 
apical spot, and the ciliae yellowish brown. Hind wings leaden gray, and 
the ciliae yellowish brown.” 


There is a straight black streak in the ciliae, from the apical spot to 
the apex, not mentioned by Dr. Clemens. 


150 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


Alar ex, 2 lines or less. I have made some other observations on it. 
in its various stages, vol. 3, ante p. 223. As there stated, it mines the 
leaves not only of the Apple, in which Dr. Clemens found it, but also 
those of the Haw (Crategus), Pear (Pyrus), Wild Cherry (Prunus 
serotina), and since then I have found it mining the leaves of the Quince 
(Cydonia). All of these trees (except, perhaps, the Wild Cherry) are so 
nearly related that it is not surprising to find in the leaves of any one of 
them any larva which mines the leaves of another, and the Wild Cherry 
is such a favorite food with the larve of Lepidoptera, that it is not 
surprising to find any larva feeding on it which is not exclusively attached 
to some single species. Thus an Oruix, which mines Apple leaves, also 
mines those of the Wild Cherry. TZischeria malifoliella Clem., and 
Lithocolletis crategela also both mine the leaves of all the above named. 
trees except, perhaps, the Peat and the Quince. The fact titania 
splendoriferclla mines the leaves of the trees named, affords no presumption 
then that it is a general feeder, or that it mines the leaves of any tree 
not closely allied to the Haw. 

I make these suggestions because Mr, Stainton, in the preface to his 
very valuable addition of the writings of Dr. Clemens (for publishing 
which he has the hearty thanks of every student of the American Micros), 
states that he has bred from Aspen leaves, from Oregon, a species which 
it would be very hard to distinguish from A. splendoriferella. But because 
of the difference in the food plants, Mr. Stainton (rightly, I think) 
considers it a different species. If the vignette upon the title page of 
Mr. Stainton’s edition, above named, is, as I suppose, intended to 
represent the mined Aspen leaf, I think it establishes the specific character 
of the Aspen species. The hole left in the Aspen (judging from the 
vignette) is very nearly an ellipse. That made by A. splendoriferella is 
much wider in proportion to its length, being nearly as wide as long, and 
the case is almost angulated at the sides. The mines of the Micro- 
Lepidoptera, and the larval cases of the case-bearing species, and the 
modes of pupation, and forms and colors of their cocoons and pupa cases, 
have specific characters as distinct as the galls made by the Cyzzpide. 
The color of a pupa case, cut from a leaf, depends, for instance, not only 
on that of the leaf, but of the silk with which it is lined and the color of 
the enclosed larva and pupa. But I have never been able to detect a 
difference between the pupa cases of A. sflendoriferella from any of the 
leaves mined by it, as above stated. See remarks under the next. 
species. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 15! 


A. juglandiella. WN. sp. 


Except that it is perhaps a trifle smaller, I can not distinguish this. 
species in the imago from 4. sflendoriferella. Nevertheless, I consider it 
a distinct species. The pupa case is oblong oval, much narrower in 
proportion to its length, and smaller in every way than that of A. sflen- 
doriferella, besides being more pointed at the end by which it is attached. 
Besides, although splendoriferella is much the most common species (at 
least 1000 mines of splendoriferella being found to a single one of jugan- 
diella), yet I have never met with a mine of the former earlier than the 
latter part of July, whilst the mines of the latter are as abnndant, or 
nearly so, in the latter part of May as at any time. ‘The first mines of 
jJuglanaiella that I discovered were in the leaves of a small Walnut tree, 
which stands under a large Wild Cherry tree. It was early in June. I 
found several mines, but they were not by any means abundant. Nota 
mine could I find on the Wild Cherry, either at that time or for two 
months afterwards. uglandiella continued to mine the leaves of the 
Walnut throughout the. season, but never became abundant. But from 
the latter part of July, on through the season,the mines of splendoriferella 
were abundant, not only in the leaves of that particular Wild Cherry tree, 
but in those of all the species mined by it, and by October the leaves 
were riddled with the holes left by cutting out the cases. The pupa case 
of Splendoriferella is much larger than that of jug/andiella, though there is 
no appreciable difference in the size of the insects. The former is dark yel- 
lowish, while the latter is brown. I have taken the latter species mining 
Walnut leaves at a great distance from any Wild Cherry trees, as well as 
close to them. (See also the remarks under A. splendorifere.va.) 


A, saliciella. WN. sp. 


Silvery. Antenne faintly tinged with fuscous. ‘There is a triangular 
white costal spot before the ciliz, and an opposite dorsal one, each dark 
margined before and behind ; ¢he space between these two streaks and behind 
them to the apical spot is silvery. There is a golden yellow patch on the 
end of the disc immediately before the space, between the two streaks 
above mentioned (the costal and dorsal white streaks). Another golden 
yellow patch behind the costal streak, on the margin, with a very indistinct 
and small black costal streak in it; another golden yellow patch on the 
dorsal margin, behind the dorsal streak, and behind it is.a blackish patch 
covering the base of the dorsal cilia. Apical spot black, and adjoining it 


T5S THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





behind is a fan-shaped dark brown patch at the base of the apical cilia. 
Ciliz silvery, avd not containing a black streak from the apical spot to the 
apex. 
The italics above indicate the differences between it and A. splendort- 
ferella, and besides, it is much smaller than either that species or A. e/a, 
having an a/ar ex. of less than 4% of an inch, and thus smaller than 
Nepticila microtheriella, which, Mr. Stainton says, is the smallest hereto- 
fore known Lepidopteron. Besides, the antennz are not so distinctly 
fuscous as in splendoriferella, and the golden portions of the wing are not 
so deep or reddish golden as in that species. It resembles that species 
more closely than either A. e/a or A. lucifluella. The pupa case is 
oblong ovate, brownish, not so much pointed at the anterior end as that 
of A. juglandiella, and is a little smaller. 


Dr. Clemens found a mine and larva in the leaves of the White Willow 
(Salix alba), which he called A. salictella, but he was not acquainted — 
with the imago. I have not met with that mine, my species having been 
bred from the Weeping Willow. But as I have no doubt that it is the 
‘same species, I have adopted his name. 


A; tila. Ante, 9\p. 2a 


In the description of this species I have used the word ‘‘before” where 
I should have written ‘ behind,” as to the location of the costal streaks ; 
and the whole description is so unsatisfactory that L[ wish to redescribe 
it. It is, however, difficult to get a good description of a species which 
does not present the same appearance in any two views of it. 


Head, palpi, thorax and basal half of the primaries pale grayish 
silvery. Antenne fuscous above, silvery beneath. Apical half of the 
primaries black along the dorsal margin, the black spreading over the 
middle of the apical portion of the wing to the golden yellow costal part 
of the apical half of the wing. This golden yellow costal portion 
extends along the entire costo-apical margin, and along the middle of the 
apical portion of the wing it passes gradually into, or blends with, the 
blackish dorsal portion. (Perhaps a more correct description would be: 
apical half of the wing golden along the costal half, blackish along the - 
dorsal half, the two colors meeting and blending with each other in the 
middle, and the black passing into the base of the dorsal cilia.) In some 
lights the golden is strongly tinged with red, and the black becomes a 
deep golden brown. J» the black dorsal portion, behind the middle of the 
dorsal margin, is a triangular silvery streak ; and opposite to it, 2 the 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 153: 





golden costal portion, is another, the two almost meeting so as to form a 
fascia, and both dark margined on both sides ;_ behind the costal streak, 
at the end of the golden portion and before the apex, is another small 
costal silvery streak, which is distinctly dark margined before by a straight 
line, and faintly behind by an oblique one. Apical spot black, and 
behind and adjoining it is a fan-shaped, dark brown spot, behind which 
is a straight dark brown streak in the ciliz, extending to the apex. The 
apical spot is margined before and on each side with brilliant, metallic, 
silvery scales, as in splendoriferella. 


Al. ex. 2 lines or less. Same as in sflendoriferella, but this species is 
slenderer than that. The first costal and the dorsal streaks are as in that 
species, but there is much less golden in the apical half of the wing, and 
much more blackish or dark brown. ‘The apical spot aud adjoining fan- 
shaped patch and apical streak are as in splendoriferella, but in splendori- 
Jerella there is but one costal streak. It is, in fact, less like splendoriferella 
than any of the other species. The pupa case is nearly an ellipse, slightly 
oval, golden yellow, marked with small brown dots. 


I was at first in doubt whether this might not be Clemens’ J. luciffuella, 
which mines Hickory leaves. But I cannot reconcile it to the require- 
ments of his description, which says that (wczféwella is larger than 
splendortfereila, and has three costal streaks. I have met with the larva of 
lucifluella, but have not succeeded in raising it. Dr. Clemens met with 
another mine in the leaves of the Hornbean, which he called A. astryae- 
foliella, but the maker of the mine is still unknown. Possibly it may 
prove to be this species. 


[Since the foregoing remarks were written, I have observed that the 
microscopic hairs (vegetable) on the surface of the case of A. ella are 
identical with those on the under surface of Hickory leaves, and this 
tends to the conclusion that this is Clemens’ /uc7fuella; but other leaves 
may have similar hairs. The fact that I can not recognise it in Dr. 
Clemens’ description is by no means conclusive, for my own first descrip- 
tion is certainly defective, and the shades of coloring vary so with the 
play of the light, that it is a very difficult species to describe satisfactorily. } 


Errata.—Ante p. 128, under C. gigantella, in line 5 of the description, 
for “ these” read ‘‘three;” p. 129, for fagi-costicella read fagi-corticella. 





154 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








PRELIMINARY CATALOGUE OF THE NOCTUIDA OF 
CALIFORNIA. 


BY AUG. R. GROTE, 


Curator of Articulata, Buffalo Soc. of Natural Sciences. 


rt. Bombycia improvisa (Hy. Edw.,) Proc. Ac. N.S., Cal., 5, p. 189. 


““ Cascades, W. T.”. Unknown to me and perhaps incorrectly referred to 
this group. 


2. Pseudothyatira expultrix Grote. 


“‘ Cariboo, B. C.,” Hy. Edw., 1. c. Unknown to mé from the West 
Coast. 


3. Habrosyne scripta (Gosse.) 
Alaska’ (2?) Hy. Edw.jl c. Sitka, No. -13 7. bky. isle 


4. <Acronyca lupini Behr, Bull. Bult. Soc. N:S., 1, p. 79: 


One specimen. 


5. Acronycta lepusculina Guenee, Bull. Buff. Soc. N. S., 1, p. 130. 


A fresh specimen sent by Mr. Behrens gives me some reason to doubt 
this determination and to suspect a distinct species, allied to A. /eporina 
and A. lepusculina, in California. The fore wings are narrower, the 
markings more obliterate above. A different material from that now 
accessible to me is needed to make any change in this determination or to 
confirm it with positiveness. 


6. Acronycta perdita Grote. 


t= Nearest resembling A. xy/iniformis of any of our Eastern species, 
but larger, more robust, and with the fore wings even darker. There is 
an absence of any softer shadings before and behind the transverse 
posterior line. All the markings are coarser. The terniinal series of 
black interspaceal mirks are large and heavy. The transverse posterior 
line has the outer dentations more uneven ; the teeth on veins 4 and 6 
are notably longer; the line itself seems hardly so near the terminal 
margin as in xyliniformis. The black shade streak at anal angle is heavier 
and the dash on the median space is different in position, more incon- 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 155 





‘spicuous and near the t. a. line. ‘The median shade is less prominent and 
‘the t. a. line more distinct and widely geminate. Hind wings white, like 
xyliniformis, but the fringe is merely black dotted,not cut with black as in 
the Eastern species. The palpi exceed the front more prominently than 
in A. xyliniformis. Exp.4om.m. ‘ June 5th,’ Mr. Behrens. 


7. Feralia februalis Grote. List of the Noct. of N. Am., p. 60. 


“ Sanzalito,” Mr. Behrens, “ February 12th.” 


8. Agrotis saucia (Hubner), Bull. Buff. Soc. N.S., 1, p. 135. 
“‘OQakland,” No. 15, Mr. Behrens. 


g. Agrotis fennica (Tauscher.) 

“ Kodiak,” No. 13, Mr. Behrens. A single ¢, which agrees with 
Herrich-Schaeffer’s figure 146, except that the hind wings are very pale 
-and whitish. 

ro. Asgrotis lycarum Herrich-Sch., figs. 122-124. 


No. 1392, Mr. Hy. Edwards; No. 31, Mr. Behrens. This species, 
which seems to be very common in California, I have determined with 
hesitation. I cannot discover, however, any difference of importance 
between Herrich-Schaeffer’s figures, above cited, and the material before 
me. 


II. Agrottis Vancouverensis Grote, Bull. Buff. Soc. N. S., 1, p. 134, 
plate 4, fig. 4. 


‘“‘ Vancouver’s Island,” No. 2624, Mr. Hy. Edwards. 


12. Agrotis formalis Grote, List of the Noctuide of N. Am., p. 61. 


California, Mr. Behrens. 


13. Agrotis Wilsonz Grote, List of the Noct. of N. Am., p. 62. 


California, Nos. 12 and 24, Mr. Behrens. 
I4. Agrotis specialis Grote, List of the Noct. of N. Am., p. 62. 
California, Mr. Behrens. 


15. Agrotis fuscigerus Grote. 


¢ 2. A species closely resembling 4. §Cochranz, but with notably 
darker and more fuscous hind wings in either sex. The primaries are 


156 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 








much darker, more evenly colored, without that mottled appearance which: 
has induced Mr. Riley’s comparison of Cochrant with chenopodiit. The 
lines are variably distinct ; when present, the inner component line of the 
t. p. line is usually broad. The four specimens (gf f 2 2) sent by Mr, 
Behrens under the No. 25, and as taken Sept. 13th and r4th, expand— 
gf 30, 2 35 m.m., and cannot be referred to Cochrant. 


16. Agrotis Hollemanit Grote. 


A small species with all the tibiz spinose; the fore tibia have two. 
rows of strong spines. Antennz pubescent. Fore wings of a dark 
bluish grey, with hardly a trace of the usual lines. A strong black 
basal stripe ; the cell shaded with black about the discal stigmata, which 
are singularly shaped, the orbicular elongate and fusing with the moderate, _, 
excavate reniform, so that we are reminded of Ozcocnemis Chandleri. The 
terminal space is indicated by interspaceal black streaks. Fringes con- 
colorous with internal hair line. Hind wings blackish fuscous, with 
whitish fringes divided by a hairline. Beneath whitish, powdered with 
fuscous, without lines ; hind wings with a minute discal dot. Head and 
thorax like primaries; collar with a dark superior line. xpanse, 30 m.. 
m., siskiyou Co., Cal., Capt. Holleman. From. Prof, A. S. Packanasge 


17... Mamestra cuneata Grote; Bul. Buf. Soc. .N.\5:,/1, p. 130);%platems 
fig. 9. 

No. 21, Mr. Behrens. ‘“ Mendocino, No. 21. The dot near internal’ 
angle of fore wings 1s always yellow; in a few specimens, probably 
rubbed, it is not noticeable. 


18. Mamestra chartaria Grote, Bul. Buf. Soc. N. S., 1, p. 138, plate 
Ate: 12. 
California, Mr. Behrens. 


19. Mamestra niveigutiata Grote, Bul. But. Soc. N.S.) 13paaaes 
plate 4, fig. 16. 
California, Mr. Hy. Edwards. 


20. Mamestra puerilis Grote; List of the Noct. of N. Am., p. 64. 
California, Mr. Hy. Edwards and Mr. Behrens. 


21. Mamestra cinnabarina Grote, Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H., 16, p. 241. 

California, Mr. Hy. Edwards and Mr. Behrens. Several specimens. 
show a range of variation in the extent of the brown and uid eee tint on 
the primaries above. 


Or 
“J 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. bd: 


22. Mamestra laudabilis (Guen.) 
California, Mr. Hy. Edwards. 


23. Mamestra g-lincata Grote, Bul. Buf. Soc. N.S., 1, p. 140, plate 
4. fig. 15 and List, p. 13. 
California, Mr. Hy. Edwards and Mr. Behrens. 


24. Dianthecia leucogramma Grote, List. p. 64. 
California, Mr. Hy. Edwards and Mr. Behrens. 


25. Dianthecta rufula Grote, List of the Noct. of N. Am., p. 64. 


California, Mr. Behrens. ‘‘ Oakland, No. 22.” 


26. Dianthecia insolens Grote, List of the Noct. of N. Am., p. 65. 


California, Mr. Behrens. 


27. Oncocnemis Behrensi Grote, List of the Noct. of N. Am., p. 65. 
California, Mr. Behrens. “ Sanzalito, Feb. roth to 24th.” 


(To be Continued.) 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


GRAPTA COMMA AND DRYAS. 
DEAR SIR,— 

I am able to give you the results of an experiment made with Grapte 
comma, the converse of that made in 1873 with dryas. On the roth of 
May last I took a female, true comma—tred hind wings and plain brown 
underside—and tied it up to a branch of Hop-vine, which branch was 
free from eggs of any sort. She laid in the bag some forty eggs, and I 
had from them thirty-nine caterpillars. Most of them in due time 
reached the chrysalis state, and between the roth and 15th of June there 
emerged thirty-four butterflles—every one a dryas. In the fall of 1873, 
from eggs of dryas, there resulted a large number of comma and six dryas, 
as stated in the Enromococisr for October. I think this fully settles the 
question of the dimorphism of the species. 

Yours truly, 
W. H. Epwarps, Coalburgh, W. Va. 


158 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 
DEAR SIR,— 


I send you the following items, hoping they may prove of interest: 


CLISIOCAMPA SYLVATICA.—The caterpillars of this pest are swarming 
on almost every description of tree or shrub in the vicinity of this city, 
many trees being completely denuded of foliage. C. Americana is also 
common on apple trees. 


LACHNOSTERNA QUERCINA. — This insect, though usually very 
abundant, has been quite scarce this season; I have not seen more than 
a dozen specimens. 


DEPRAVED TASTE OF P. TURNUS.—One day early in Junea P. durnus 
which I was pursuing hovered over and alighted upon some cow drop- 
pings, thrust out its tongue, and settled itself quietly to its disgusting 
repast. While in this position it was easily captured. 


On the 27th of July, last year, it rained very heavily during the 
evening in the vicinity of Portland, where I was spending the summer ; 
but the night seemed very favorable for moths, a large number entering 
the house, among them a fine specimen of Pihilampelus satellitia, two of 
Arctia virgo, and one of Arctia rubricosa, besides a number of others 
with the names of which I am not acquainted. 


DESCRIPTION OF THE EGG OF GASTROPACHA AMERICANA.—The eggs 
of this moth are very pretty, being white with peculiar black markings. 
They were laid June 27th, by a female reared in confinement. Length 
.06 of an inch ; width, .045. Form oval, flattened at the base and also 
above, but a little thicker at one end than at the other. At each end 
there is a semi-circular stripe and dot, closely resembling the crescent and 
star of the Turkish arms, and these markings are larger and more distinct 
on the larger end. On both the flattened surfaces there are markings 
like eyes, each formed by an oval spot in the centre, with a curved stripe 
above and a shorter straight one below, of which the latter is widened 
towards the extremities. Between and parallel to the two eye-brow-like 
marks there is another black stripe which is widest at the larger end of 
the egg,and tapers towards the other. Over the whole surface there is a 
minute indented reticulation, the meshes of which are irregular in form, 
with a depressed dot in the centre of each. 


H. H. Lyman, Montreal, P. Q. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 159 


DEAR SIR,— 


A few days ago I went to a swamp where P/e/on feeds in early spring, 
and discovered several of the webs-of that species spun over the stems 
of Chelone glabra and whatever other plants were contiguous. Within 
the webs were larvae about 4 inch long,and as during the last few days, 
since I have had a number of them in the house, there is no appearance 
-of feeding by the larvae, I presume they are quiet for the season and 
‘till next March. Seeing a good many P#yciodes marcia flying in the 
‘swamp, it occurred to me to try a female with a stem of Chelone glabra, 
and I did so with satisfactory results, as three days after I enclosed her 
in a bag, she laid about 75 eggs on the under side of one of the leaves. 
I hope I have at last found the food plant of this species, after having 
tried a score of plants to no purpose. 

W. H. Epwarps. 


EDITORIAE SUMMARY. 


PALEONTOLOGY OF ONTARIO.—We are much pleased to observe that 
the Legislature of this Province is extending its liberality in the cause of 
Science to other departments, besides those somewhat utilitarian branches 
of Entomology and Horticulture, as is eminently manifest from the 
excellent Report before us on the Paleontology of Ontario. It has been 
prepared by Prof. H. Alleyne Nicholson, of the University of ‘Toronto, 
and contains descriptions and figures of the organic remains of the 
Devonian Formation of Western Canada. No less than one hundred 
and sixty species of fossils are described, and illustrated by means of 
nearly sixty wood-cuts in the text, and eight splendid lithographic plates. 
It is noteworthy, also, that all the figures are original, except two of the 
wood cuts. We trust that the Legislature will long continue its assistance 
to this excellent work, and that Prof. Nicholson may be enabled tc carry 
out a complete investigation of the Paleontology of all the fossiliferous 
geological formations in this country. 





AMONG the “ old country ” publications that we have lately received, 
we may mention the 15th number of the Scottish Naturalist (Dr. F. B. 
White, Perth.) We gather from its pages that a goodly number of Field 
Clubs are being organized in Scotland, and that much satisfactory work 


a 
160 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








is anticipated from them. Cannot something of the kind be re-inaugurated" 
here with a fair promise of success >—————Vatwye continues to be as. 
well filled as ever with most interesting and instructive matter; recent 
numbers have contained seasonable articles upon the Comet and the 


Transit of Venus, and a series of illustrated papers upon the observatories: 
of the United States —————European potato growers are beginning to- 


become alarmed at the prospect of a speedy invasion of their fields by 


the devastating Colorado Beetle. As it has now very nearly reached the- 


Atlantic seaboard, we have little doubt that in another year: or two it 


will succeed in crossing the ocean and striking terror into the hearts of © 
all patriotic Irishmen. Mr. Newman, in a recent number of his “ Ento-- 
mologist,” while he confuses the sweet potato with the «ordinary potato,. 


and the insects that prey upon these very different plants, expresses his 


disbelief in the prospect of trouble from any of our American pests. He- 
goes on, however, to quote all the remedies against the Colorado beetle: 


contained in the Report of our Society—without acknowledgement ! 


WE REGRET to announce the death of Mr. Geo. R.. Crotch, M. A.. of” 


St. John’s College, Cambridge, who sailed from England to America in 
1872 for the purpose of studying the Entomology of parts which he 
considered incompletely known. He made collections, especially of 
Coleoptera, in California, Vancouver’s Island, Oregon and other Districts. 
So much were his labors valued in England that his University on two 


occasions voted him asum of money to aid him in the formation of 


collections for the Museum at Cambridge. 


—_——_ 


THE 23RD Meeting of the American Association is to take place this 
month at Hartford, Conn., beginning on August 12th. Dr. LeConte is 
the President elect. As an invitation was extended at the Portland 
meeting to the members of the Entomological Society of Canada to be 
present on this occasion, We trust that many of our friends will make a 
point of attending; there will no doubt be a large attendance of insect 
hunters from all parts of the continent. 


THE 44TH Meeting of the British Association is to be held at Belfast, 
under the Presidency of Prof. Tyndall. It is to commence a week later 


than that at Hartford. 
Coy. Sat 


x 





Che Canadwn Entomologist, 





Wot. VI. LONDON, ONT., SEPTEMBER, 1874. No. 9 





— — — —_ — eS 








THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION. 


At the recent gathering of this scientific body, in Hartford, Conn... 
there were brought together an unusual number of Entomologists. This 
was owing partly, no doubt, to the kind invitation extended by the 
Association to the American and Canadian Entomological Societies, to 
appoint special meetings of their members to be held at that time and 
place, with the view of having these important Societies fully represented. 
In response to this invitation, a number of members of the American 
Entomological Society were present, while our Canadian Entomologists 
were represented by the worthy President of our Society, Rev. C. J. S. 
Bethune, M. A., and the Editor of the ENromoLocist. Several evenings 
were occupied by these “ brethren of the net” in interesting and profit- 
able discussions on the habits and peculiarities of various insects, the 
time passing so pleasantly that the midnight hours were reached ere a 
separation could be effected. After mature deliberation it was resolved 
to organize under the name of ‘The Entomological Club of the A. A- 
A. S,” and the following constitution was adopted : 


TITLE. 
I. The name of the association shall be “ The Entomological Club 
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.” 
OBJECTS. 


II. The annual reunion of the Entomologists of America, the 
advancement of entomology, and the consideration of all general questions 
relating to the science that may from time to time arise. 


MEMBERSHIP. 


IIIf. All members of the American Association for the Advancement 
of Science who are interested in Entomology, shall spse facto be members 
-of the club. 


a 


162 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





OFFICERS. 


IV. The officers of the club shall be a President, a Vice-President,and 
a Secretary, to be elected annually by vote of the members. 


DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS. 


V. The President, or in his absence,the Vice-President, shall preside 
at all meetings ; the Secretary shall perform all the usual duties of a 
recording and corresponding secretary. 


MEETINGS. 


VI. A meeting shall be held in each year at the place of meeting 
appointed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science ; 
it shall commence at 2:30 p. m.on the day before the meeting of the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science, and be continued 
throughout that evening ; further meetings may be held as time will permit 
during the week following. 


The following resolutions were also unanimously passed : 


Resolved, That the members of the American Entomological Society 
and the Entomological Society of Ontario, together with all other persons 
interested in entomological science, be cordially invited to attend and take 
part in the proceedings. 


Resolved, That the secretary be requested to publish notices of the 
meeting in such periodicals devoted to natural history, and especially in 
those devoted to entomology as are published on the continent; and 
further, that the members be requested to bring with them at the annual 
reunions specimens for exchange and exhibition, and especially types of 
species that they may have described during the year. 


Ata subsequent meeting of the Club, the following officers were 
elected: President, Dr. John L. LeConte, Philadelphia, Pa.; Vice Presi- 
dent, Samuel H. Scudder, Cambridge, Mass.; Secretary, Chas. V. Riley, 
St. Louis, Mo. We feel sure that under such able direction, the Entomo- 
logical Club of the A. A. A. S. will prosper, and be the means ef stimulating 
many to increased effort, and thus greatly advance the interests of our 
favorite study. 


As it may interest many to know who werc present at these meetings, 
we furnish the following list: Dr. John L. LeConte, Philadelphia, Pa.; 
Dr. J. G. Morris, Baltimore, Md.; Prof. S. S. Haldeman, Chickis, Pa. ; 
Dr. H. A. Hagen, Cambridge, Mass.; S. H. Scudder, Cambridge, Mass. ; 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 163 








$e 


A. R. Grote, Buffalo, N. Y.; Dr. G. M. Levette, Indianapolis, Ind.; C. V. 
Riley, St. Louis, Mo.; O. S. Westcott, Chicago, IIl.; J. A. Lintner, Albany, 
N. Y.; H.F. Bassett, Waterbury, Conn. ; George Dimmock, Springfield, 
Mass.; B. Pickman Mann, Cambridge, Mass.; E. P. Austin, Cambridge, 
Mass.; Dr. R. King, Kalamazoo, Mich.; Chas. P. Dodge, Washington, 
D. C.; Mr. Patton, Waterbury, Conn.; Rev. C. J.S. Bethune, M. A., Port 
Hope, Ont.; W. Saunders, London, Ont. During the meetings of the 
Association several interesting and valuable papers on Entomological 
subjects were read by Dr. LeConte and Messrs. Scudder, Riley and Grote. 


‘THE LINNEAN SIGNIFICATION OF THE GENERIC TERM 
PAPIEAO. 


BY H. HAGEN, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


In a recent issue of the CANADIAN ENTomoLocisr, No. viii, Vol. vi, 
there appears from the pen of Mr. Scudder a paper on “The Linnean 
Signification of the Generic Term Papilio,’ containing some statements 
on which I propose to offer a few remarks. 


The data given by Scudder from Linné’s works are—save some minor 
typographical errors—correct, excepting in two important points. On p. 
144 he says “in the year 1846 the first edition of the Fauna Suecica was 
published, zz zich Linne for the first time treats of spectes, giving to them 
names in the language of the country.” (The italics are mine.) 


In the first place, Linné did never give either to animals or insects names 
in the language of his country. This is important in view of Mr. Scudder’s 
proposition in “‘Psyche” to give such names for the convenience of non- 
entomologists. The names quoted by Scudder, viz., morio, polychloros, &c., 
are never given by Linnéas xames of the species, but just at the end of the 
synonyms, quoted as synonyms, always in this form, vuz/go morio. These 
names were ever invented by Linné, but were used by former naturalists ; 
some are to be found in Petiver’s Museum, viz., Oculus pavonis (not 
Oculis), Bella Donna, Ammiralis (the Admiral) Argus, in Rajus Hist. 
Ins. and in Albin. Engl. Insects, Brassicaria. Urticaria, etc.—the others in 
different other authors. Even Linné used some of them before, in his 
Elenchus, viz., Bella Donna, Oculus pavonis, and always in this manner: 


* 


164 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





Bella Donna dictus, Oculus pavonis dictus, showing clearly that the names 
were not given by himself. Such names as are quoted with vz/go are not 
numerous, although in much larger proportion in Lepidoptera than in any 
other order. I find 25 such among 37 Papilio, and 14 Phalenz only 
among the 114! described; in other orders the proportion is much less. 
There is not in the whole Fauna Suecica one name given by Linne. In 
the rare cases where Linne quotes Swedish names he has never given 
these himself, but quoted them as synonyms, as in Phal. mori. 


Vulgo Bombyx. 
Suecis Silkesmask. 

In the end of the last and in the beginning of the present century there 
was a general tendency to give to every insect a name in the language of 
the country in which it was found. In this work labored Donovan for 
England, Fourcroy @hd Geoffroy for France, Sepp for Holland, Isert for 
Sweden, Bruennich for Denmark, Panzer and Sturm for Germany; but 
very soon it was seen that this business was a difficult one, often the names 
were not appropriate, some were foolish, and others even ridiculous, 
while it was apparent to all that such names, instead of being a benefit to 
science, were only a burden, and soon the matter was dropped entirely. 

Even in the case of injurious insects it is seldom necessary to invent 
common names, for where species are really destructive the people almost 
always have a name for such just at hand. 

With regard to the second point in the paragraph quoted, Linne treats 
-of species first ina paper published in 1736,in Acta literaria et Scientiarum. 
Suecice Upsala, ‘I. iv, p. 97-138, Animalia per Sueciam observata. This 

paper is reprinted Lugduni Batav. 1743 1n 8vo., Avenchus animalium per 
Sueciam observatorum, p. 37-94. anne himself quotes this paper later 
always “ Acta Upsal, 1736,” and states in the preface of Fauna Suecica, 
Ist edition, “‘ quum ad patriam Academiam Upsaliensem 1729 degerem, 
conquirendis insectis primam dedi operam,nec prius destiti, quam visendz 
mihi essent 1735 aestiva regiones. Eorum que reperi, catalogum a me 
exhibitum. Regia Scient. Soc. Upsal. actis suis pro anno 173 
inseruit.’”* 





ES = . ee nn 


* When I studied in 1729 at my native Academy of Upsala, I collected chiefly 
insects, nor did I desist until I started to visit other countries in 1735. Of those 
which I found, the Royal Scientific Society of Upsala published in their proceedings 
for the year 1736 a catalogue prepared by me. 


ne 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 











STD 


The Elenchus (just as the first edition of the Fauna Suecica) has xo 
names of the species (1 say purposely so, as Linne called NOMINA 
TRIVIALIA what to-day is called sPECIES NAME, and Linne called NOMEN 
-SPECIFICUM what to-day is called p1AGNosIs) but always a diagnosis, and 
where it was possible, quotations of former authors, viz., Petiver Museum 
-and Gazophylacium, Rajus, Albin, &c. The species given in the Elenchus 
are just as easily recognized as those in the Fauna Suecica, Ed. 1, by 
-comparing the quoted authors and the diagnosis. It follows, therefore, 
that if the first edition of the Fauna be recognized to have right of 
: priority, the Elenchus must be recognized to have the same right. 

Now, the genus Papilio is established in Syst. Nat. Ed. 1, 1735. The 
-Elenchus /s the first publication with species (1736) after it, and the first 
‘Papilio is P. Rhamnt, quoted as Papilio sulphureus Petiv. Mus. 1. Com- 
paring Petiver’s words and Linne’s Fauna Suec., Ed. 1, No. 795, the 
identity of this Papilio sulphureus with P. Rhamni is sure. 


I give here the list of the species of the Elenchus and of the first 
-edition of the Fauna Suec., i and ii : 


Lilenchus. Faun. Suec., Ed. 1. Ld. it. 
tr. Rhamni mas. 1. <Antiopa. rt. Machaon. 
2. Rhamni fem. 2. Polychloros. z. Apollo. 
3. Brassice. 3.) -Urttece. 3. Mnemosyne. 
4. Rape. 4.” €, album. 4. Crategi. 
Beni) NepI. 5. dO. 5. Brassice. 
6. Crategi. 6. Atalanta. 6. Rape. 
7. Apollo. 7. Cardui & foliow 7. Napi & follow 
24. Rhamni. 12. Rhamni. 
Io. Antiopa. 25,| i Crateegi. 21. Antiopa. 
11. Polychloros. 26. Napi. 22. Polychloros. 
£2. Urtice: 27. Rape. 23... Drie: 
13. C. album. 28. Brassicz. 24. C.album. 
14. lo. 31. Apollo. 25. Atalanta. 


Follow ; Linne first (1736) places P. Rhamni at the head of the genus 
Papilio ; second, 1746-48 (the later editions until 1756 are only reprints) 
P. antiopa at the head, and third, 1758, and following, the swallow-tails 
-at the head, beginning with P. priamus in Ed. x, Syst. Nat., and with P. 
machaon in Ed. 4, Fauna Suecica. 


In the Fundamenta Entomologiz, 1767, 4to p. 32, Linne speaks 
.about the division of Papilio into five classes, devoting more than a page 


166 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





to this subject, and says strictly that his Zguztes form the first class,. 
Heliconii the second, Danaiz the third, Vymphales the fourth, Plebert the 
fifth. 


The closing lines in Mr. Scudder’s paper should therefore be amended! 
so as to read thus: “In Linne’s mind which was a typical Papilio— 
Rhamni, or Antiopa, or Machaon? ‘The answer is simply that 
Linne in his study arrived at the conclusion that the first class of his: 
Papilio should be formed by the Equites. I would remark, however, that 


Linne wever speaks, as far as I know, of any particular species being the 


type of its class, and this idea that his first species is the type is of very 
recent date. 


The fact that so few Entomologists have the opportunity of consulting, 


Linne’s older works, induced me to publish these statements. 


MICRO - LEPIDOPTERA. 





BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY. 
(Continued from page 153.) 


ANTISPILA. 


A. cornifoliclla ? Clem. 


Can there be two Antispila miners of the Dog-wood? Either there: 
must be, and my specimens are specifically distinct from this species, or’ 
Dr. Clemens’ description is strangely erroneous in at least one particular, . 


viz., the color of the fascia and streaks, which he says are golden in 


cornifoliella, but which are silvery white in my specimens, all of which— 


six in uumber—agree exactly in ornamentation, and all but one of which: 


are bred specimens. ‘The species of the genus generally resemble each : 


other very closely, and some recognized species do not differ from each: 


other more than my specimens do from Dr. Clemens’ description. Neither’ 
is it improbable that two species mine the leaves of the Dogwood, for the 
same thing occurs in Europe, where A. Pfeifferella and A. Trettschkiella’ 


both mine the leaves of Cornus sanguinea. A. cornifoliella and my 
specimens both mine the leaves of Cornus florida. 1 subjoin Dr.. 


vt 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 











Clemens’ description for the purpose of comparison with my own 
specimens : 


“ Head, face, labial palpi and fore feet dark brown. Antennae dark 
brown ; basal joint somewhat ochreous. Forewings rather dull dark 
brown, with a coppery hue. Near the base is a rather narrow, golden 
band, ot constricted on the fold, and rather indistinct toward the costa. 
where it is somewhat suffused with a coppery hue, and nearest the base 
on the inner margin. At the apical third of the wing is a small golden 
spot, and nearly opposite, on the inner margin, another of the same hue, 
with the hinder portion of the wing tinged with a bright reddish coppery 
hue ; ciliae dark grayish. Hind wings purplish brown ; ciliae somewhat 
paler, with a coppery hue.” 


The italics are Dr. Clemens’. The following description is drawn 
from the six bred specimens above mentioned : 


Head and face dark brown or brilhant metallic, according to the light > 
labial palpi yellowish white; tarsi all yellowish white, with each joint 
tipped with dark brown on its anterior margin. Antennae dark brown, 
with the two or three joints nearest the base ochreous, and ¢he extreme tip 
white. Fore wings and thorax dark brown, blackish, bronzed or tinged 
with purple, according to the light; before the middle of the wing is a 
slightly curved fascia, which is widest and nearest to the base on the 
dorsal margin, wot constricted on the fold, but quite distinct throughout. A 
costal and dorsal streak just before the ciliae, the costal streak a little 
behind the dorsal one. In fresh specimens this fascia and these streaks 
are silvery white ; in old specimens they have a faint golden hue in some 
lights. (Clemens describes them as golden.)  Sasal half of the cle 
purplish ; apical half grayish silvery. Al. ex. scarcely ¥4 inch. 

Dr. Clemens suggests that corntfolicdla may be a variety of his Wyse 
foliella. 1 have never succeeded in breeding the latter species. 


-A. tsabella, Clem. 


I find nearly the same differences between my specimens (bred) of 
this and Dr. Clemens’ description, that I have noted above as to corni- 
foliella. Dy. Clemens says that the fore wings have no greenish or violet 
reflections, which is certainly incorrect. The fascia is wider than in 
cornifoliella, the thorax more shining metallic, the purple hinder marginal 
line is less distinct, and the entire wing is less purplish, and the species is 
a little larger. Nevertheless, they resemble each other very closely. The 


168 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 





‘costal and dorsal spots in both are of nearly equal size, or the costal one 
is a little the largest. 


A. viticordifolicdla. N. sp? 

Dr. Clemens mentions a mine and larva in grape leaves to which he 
gives this name, but he was not acquainted with the imago. Though it 
sometimes happens that more than one species of a genus mines leaves 
of the same plant, and it is therefore possible that the species described 
below may not be the same referred to by Clemens, yet from his descrip- 
tion of the mine and larva, I feel confident that it is, and have therefore 
given it the name suggested by him. 


Dark brown, inclining to blue black, with a purplish tinge in some 
lights, and in some lights bronzy brown or greenish ; thorax and base of 
the wings with pink, purple or topaz red reflections, according to the 
light. A nearly straight silvery white fascia before the middle of the 
wings, not constricted on the fold, widest on the dorsal margin, where it 
is also a little nearer to the base ; a large triangular silvery white dorsal 
streak just before the beginning of the ciliae, and a smaller one at the 
beginning of the costal ciliae. Ciliae white. ‘Tarsi yellowish white, each 
joint tipped in front with dark brown. — Face yellowish white; antennae 
dark brown, with about six terminal joints silvery white, and the six 
preceding ones alternately white and dark brown. _ It is a little smaller 
than A. cornifoliclla. The mine, larva and case are smaller than those of 
A. isabella, and the case is elliptical in shape, whilst in corntfoliedla and 
zsabella it is nearly circular. 


A. ampclopsifolicla. N. sp. 


This species is known only in the larval state, unless the species 
described, but not named below, may be the same. ‘The mine, larva 
and case are very small, smaller than any other known species. It mines 
the leaves of Ampelopsis quinguefolia, and the mine is elliptical in out- 
line. I find that I have mislaid my notes upon the larva. I have never 
succeeded in breeding it. 

Can not something be done towards determining the original of some 
cultivated plants by a knowledge of the habits of insects which feed upon 
them? <A great majority of herbivorous insects are doubtless poly- 
phagous, but many are confined to a single group of plants, and some to 
a single species. When an insect known to feed only on a single wild 
species, if found feeding on an allied cultivated plant, is it not a fair 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 169 


«deduction that the cultivated one is derived from the wild stock? — Dr. 
_ Clemens states that he bred his species 4. isade//a from the cultivated 
grape Isabella, which, if I ain rightly informed, is supposed to be derived 
from Vitis labrusca. 1 have bred it from at least a dozen cultivated 
varieties, including Catawba, Hartford Prolific and Concord, but I have 
also bred it from the wild Vitis cordifolia, so that this instance proves 
nothing. But Dr. C. records the larva of A. witicordifoliella from the 
leaves of V. cordifolia only, and I have never found its mine in any other 
species or variety. Would there not bea presumption—if it should now 
be found mining any cultivated variety—that that variety sprang from the 
cordifolia stock ? So Dr. C. records Phyllocnistis vitigeneila from the leaves 
of V. cordifolia only, whilst I have found it in the leaves of a great many 
cultivated varieties, including those above named, so that it proves no 
more than 4. isabella; but P. vitifoliella I have never found elsewhere 
than in the leaves of V. cordifoliella, and one or two cultivated vines of 
which I find I have kept no memorandum. 


Some years ago I bought from the gardener of the late N. Longworth, 
of Cincinnatti, a grape vine of a variety but little cultivated, called 
‘‘ Longworth’s Seedling, No. 20,” the origin of which the gardener refused 
to tell me. The foliage is unlike that of any other grape known to me, 
and is still less like that of Ampelopsis guinguefolia, and approaches V. 
cordifolia. \.ast summer I found its leaves mined by a larva closely 
resembling that of 4. ampelopsifoliella, supra, and which I suspect to be 
the same. I have never found itin the leaves of any other plant, though 
over a dozen other varieties of grapes grow within a few feet of the 
Longworth vine. From it I bred the species described below, which I do 
not now name,as it may prove to be identical with 4.ampelopsifoliella. The 
single specimen was a little injured, and the description is therefore in 
one or two respects imperfect. 


Palpi pale yellowish ? Head and face bright but pale golden, in some 
lights silvery, tinged with golden. Antennae brown, /fainé/y annulate 
with whitish. Thorax and primaries rich purplish brown, in some lights 
strongly purple or bronzed ; before the middle of the primaries is a some- 
what oblique fascia, which is silvery, or bright but pale golden according 
to the light, widest and nearer to the base of the wing on the dorsal 
margin, and not constricted on the fold; a silvery or pale bright golden 
spot on the dorsal margin, just before the ciliae, and a smaller costal one 
nearly opposite, avd a spot of the same hue at the apex.  Ciliae a little 


170 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


paler than the wings, but I can not discover any hinder marginal line. 


Al, ex. #3 inch. 
» 


The larva is white, without maculae, but with the anterior margin of 
the first segment brown. 


A. hydrangeella. WN. sp. 


The mine and larva only of this species is known, and I have never 
succeeded in rearing the imago. ‘The mine, larva and case resemble those 
of A. viticordifoliella, but are perhaps a little smaller. It mines the leaves- 
of the wild Wydrangea (H. nivea.) 


Dr. Clemens states that the species described by him mine the leaves: 
of the various plants in the latter part of August and in September, from 
which I infer that he found them only at that time. But the mines of ali’ 
the species may be found as early as the first of July, and in increasing” 
numbers from that time until the fall of the leaves. I have reared JA. 
corntfoliella in the latter part of July, from leaves gathered in‘that month, 
and have found the mines and larvae of all the other species, though I 
have only succeeded in rearing the other species in the spring from mines. 
gathered in the fall. 


NOTES; ON- THELIST? OF 1866. 
BY AUG. R. GROTE, 
Curator of Articulata, Buffalo Soc. of Natural Sciences. 


Preparatory to a fresh edition of the ‘‘ List of Lep.,” of 1868, a few 
memoranda of the necessary changes will be published. 


Sesia uniformis, p iii. This species is distinct from f¢hysde, and has 
been noticed by Mr. Lintner in his valuable “ Entomological Contribu- 
tions.” Mr. Couper found it on Anticosti. This can not be Sesza 
ruficaudis Kirby, the description of which is given on p. 27 of the 
‘¢ Synonymical Catalogue” of 1865. Kirby says: two first segments of 
the body yellow olive, two next black, the rest ferruginous with yellow 
olive spots. Uwniformis has the first segments yellow olive, the next deep: 
ferruginous, the next again olive, and the anal hairs black, with ferruginous: 
central tuft. In fact, Kirby’s description rather resembles @fnis in the 
body parts. And from his comparison with fuciformis, we should think 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 171 





at once of difinis. But the terminal segments in dfinis are not “ ferru- 
ginous” any more than in wzformis, and so Kirby may have had a boreal 
species we do not yet know before him. From his description there is- 
no more correspondence with wzformis than with ¢Aysbe; rather does his- 
description agree with /uscitcaudis as to the abdomen terminally. ° 


Cressonia juglandis, p. iv. To this species must be cited Sm. pallens 
of Mr. Strecker, whose figure represents a pale 2 specimen of C. 
Juglandis, without the median shade on the forewings. Belfrage has sent 
C. juglandts from Texas. 


Dysodea || p. vi. ‘This generic name is preoccupied and must give 
way to that of Platythyris. Mr. Walker's type of Varnza appears. 
distinct. | We have probably but one species which should be known as 
Platythyris oculatana. Boisduval’s figure and description of Vitrina do 
not agree with our species, and probably v/friza represents ocu/atana in 
Europe. Much confusion has occurred through Dr. Clemens having 
described the species figured by us, Am. Lyc. Nat. Hist., N. Y., vol. vili,. 
pl. £3, figs. 4-5, as one of the Tortricidz, and without referring to- 
Boisduval’s original illustration of the genus. A second species is- 
afterwards described by Dr. Clemens under the name of Dysodia mar- 
garitana, which I have never seen. Consult Am. Soc. Belge, T. 7, Pl. 1,. 
for an illustration ot the embryonic stages of Zhyris. They seem to 
correspond generally very well with Dr. Clemens’ characters of the larva 
of Dysodea. 


NOTES ON MEGACHILE CENTUNCULARIS. 
BY THOS. G. GENTRY. GERMANTOWN, PA. 


Since so much has been written upon the habits of our ordinary 
Leaf-cutting Bee, it would seem presumptuous for me to offer anything 
further in connection therewith. But a few facts which came to my notice> 
recently are sufficiently interesting and important to merit publication. 


During the latter part of June, 1873, several cells, a half a dozen in 
number, were sent to me by a friend, who had accidentally brought them 
to light while digging underneath the shade of a Spirea corymbosa. They 
were found in close proximity to each other, arranged in a nearly 
horizontal position, at a depth of three inches below the surface of the- 


72 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








ground. The soil was comparatively solid. From the freshness of the 
leaves which composed the cells it would seem that the work had but 
lately been accomplished, but after the examination of a few, it was 
evident that some time had elapsed, since the larvae had attained to 
-considerable dimensions. 


The cells were nearly three-quarters of an inch in length, with a 
-diameter of one-fourth of an inch. ‘They were constructed of nearly 
perfect leaves of Spiraca corymbosa, instead of those of the various species 
-of Rose. The outermost circle of leaves, three in number, had their 
margins slightly overlapping on the exterior, each piece forming an arc of 
.a circle of 120 degrees. Within these were other three, arranged 
-alternately with them; others, again, alternating with the latter, and so 
-on until there were no less than six circles, having eighteen pieces in all. 
Each succeeding individual layer from without inwardly projected but 
-slightly beyond its predecessor, having but a slight resemblance ‘‘toa 
long sleeve with folds upon it,” as has been affirmed by writers. The 
mouth of each cell was closed by six circular pieces of leaves, nipped 
from the same plants. These were a trifle larger than the mouth of the 
-cell, and when in position presented a concave surface facing outwardly. 
It is obvious that the whole structure is a striking proof of adaptation to 
-an end. If the cell had been arranged vertically, its structure would 
doubtless have afforded water a ready access to the larva and its food, and 
thus have defeated the object which nature had in view. In the horizontal 
position the tile-like arrangement in the exterior, acts as a sort of roof by 
which the water is turned off. The concave arrangement of the circular 
pieces subserves a similar purpose. ‘The freshness of the leaves was 
-due, no doubt, to the protection which the enveloping earth afforded. 
The chemical rays of sunlight, which act upon the parenchymatous 
material of the leaf, when deprived of its vitality, converting the green 
and granular chlorophyl into others of a brownish hue, operate with less 
intensity at the depth of three inches. The comparative absence of 
moisture in the ground, no doubt, prevents oxidation ; there being ample 
moisture at the same time to insure softness and prevent rigidity. 


During the early part of last April (1874), several cells were brought 
to me by one of my pupils, which, on a superficial examination, appeared 
to be the mud cells of our ordinary Pelopeus, the mud-dauber. They 
were found adherent to the rafters of an unplastered attic. The cells 
were arranged side by side in numbers of three. On the exterior there 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 173: 


— —— SS - = —__---_ - — = ee 


were no shallow grooves, denoting lines of demarcation. With this. 
unimportant difference, the general outline of the mud mass, with its 
combination of pellets, was exactly similar to that constructed by the 
mud-dauber. Had the lines of separation existed, I should have had no 
hesitancy in characterizing it as a case either of usurpation of instinct 
upon the part of the A/egachile, or one of confiscation of property. 


Within, exposed to view by detachment from the aforesaid rafters, were: 
what I supposed to be the leafy cells of Afegachile. ‘The length of these 
and the peculiar disposition of their parts, materially different from what 
I had always observed, operated upon my mind to such an extent that I 
was almost constrained to believe that I had met with something altogether 
new to science, or else that I had been fortunate enough to discover a 
species of Pelopeus with Megachile-like habits. 


Each cell was one and one-eighth inches in length, with a diameter 
slightly exceeding one-fourth of an inch. It was built of elliptical pieces 
snipped from the leaves of a species of Spirea (S. corymbosa, it seemed 
to me.) ‘lhe pieces were of less dimensions than those before alluded. 
to, and arranged somewhat on a similar plan, except that there was a 
strong appearance of a double cell, as if the inferior concavity of one 
cell had been deposited in the superior concavity or mouth of the other. 
This resemblance held true to a certain extent, but the absence of a 
clear line of division between the two seemed to militate against the idea 
of a double arrangement. 


Having kept a few of the cells a reasonable length of time, until all 
hope of seeing insects emerge therefrom had vanished, I began the work 
of destruction by carefully pulling some of them to pieces. While 
engaged in my labor I was led to notice the comparative ease with which 
each relative structure separated in the middle. Within the aperture of 
one cell was a cylindrical pouch, composed of pure silk, glazed within by 
an oily secretion from the larva. This containsd a perfect, but dead 
bee, which was readily identified as Afegachile centuncularis. ‘The lower 
half of the same enclosed a similar silken sack, with fragments of legs>- 
wings, antennze and complete body segments, with a mass of debris which 
showed the clearest evidence of the ravages of some ruthless destroyer. 
Under a glass of moderate power, I had little difficulty in recognizing the 
fragments as parts of a JZegachile similar to the above. 


This last fact impressed me as peculiarly interesting and novel, as. 
showing the economy which exists and is practiced among certain 


174 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





individuals of this species. ‘To construct the inner leafy cells, with their 
numerous parts, is a labor of little moment when contrasted with the 
hours that must be spent in moulding the clay for the outer side into 
-small pellets, and then adjusting them to their proper positions. The 
existence of two bees in separate cases of silk, one above the other, in 
the same earthy apartment, seems to imply the existence of a double leafy 
-cell, even though a partition between the two should be wanting. 


It would appear that the deposition of one cell upon another would 
defeat the object which the mother JAZegachile had in view. On the 
supposition that oviposition in the upper cell took place subsequently to 
that in the lower, the time of leaving the egg would be earlier in the 
latter, the larva would sooner mature, and the perfect insect would be 
prepared to leave its prison-house anterior to its associate, and, 
being unable to effect its exit by reason of the narrowness 
of its domicile, would perish. This, doubtless, would be the upshot of 
the affair if similar cells in like situations should be built in the summer 
season. But as far as I have had any experience in the matter, the 
summer abodes of AMegachile are single, a few inches below the surface of 
the ground, and generally under the shelter of some protecting shrub, 
where the warm rays of the sun can not effect any mischief. ‘This site is 
-doubtless well selected for the reasons above adduced. 


There are usually two broods of this species in a season; a summer 
brood, which makes its appearance early in July, and a spring brood 
which has survived the winter in its double cell of earth and leaves. It 
is possible that the larva, after having exhausted its stock of honey and 
pollen, its natural food early in the fall, passes into the condition of a 
pupa, and thus remains until awakened from its sleep by the genial warmth 
-of spring. 

In the cells designed for the winter accommodation of the species, the 
-double arrangement of the inner cells will not materially affect the original 
purpose, since both insects will have passed through the cycle of trans- 
formations, and when the suitable time shall have arrived for their 
departure, the one occupying the upper cell will have made its way out 
_and thus left a clear passage for the one below. 


The absence of a line of separation between the two cells appears to 
indicate that the food had been deposited in the lower cell, and two eggs 
instead of one had been left in mistake. Where it is the custom of the 
insect to deposit but one egg, instinct teaches it to collect just enough 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST is 


Gr 


food to provide for the sustenance of the larva to which it gives birth ; 
the two eggs in the present cases were deposited through some inadvert- 
ence upon the part of the insect, and it does not seem wise to conclude 
that a similar inadvertency had led to an accumulation of a double portion 
-of food. If this double brood had been the result of mistake, it is not 
possible that several mistakes of a similar kind would have occurred, since 
it was my good fortune to meet with unoccupied cells that showed 
evidence of being once occupied. 


If two eggs are deposited within the same cell, there must be collected 
-a double quantity of pollen and honey for the nourishment of the larve. 
The one which attained to full growth first would, no doubt, seek a clear 
space in which to spin its covering, and this would be afforded by the 
upper part of the tube or upper cell. The other, after having made a 
sufficient space for this essential operation by the consumption of the 
remaining food, would accomplish the task therein. 


Some cells, which it was my privilege to examine, exhibited faint 
tracings of a partition-like arrangement between them. A portion of the 
debris in the lower cell, to which reference has been previously made, may 
have been due to the comminution of the leaves forming the separating 
layers, through some cause or other. But this lam unable to substantiate. 
If such should prove to be the case by future observations, there is 
no doubt that there will be found to exist a separate accumulation of 
pollen and honey in each cell. 


After a little reflection, there seems to be an offset to a portion of this 
-argument. May it not be possible that after the two larve had matured 
into perfect insects, the more powerful one overcame the weaker, and that 
the fragments of wings, legs, body segments, &c., are the sad trophies of 
such a conflict? This point would be worthy of acceptance if every cell 
which was examined had betrayed similar evidences. But it was not the 
-case. It only remains, then, to assume one of two opinions—either that 
the two ova were deposited upon a double allowance of food, so that the 
larvze, when hatched, should find ample sustenance to reach maturity, and 
subsequently had constructed their silken cocoons in their respective 
positions, said positions being-determined upon by priority of growth; 
-or, that a double cell was built, one on the top of the other, each properly 
victualled and provided with an ovum. 


176 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





STRAY NOTES ON CANADIAN DIPTERA. 
BY BEVERLEY R. MORRIS, M. D., NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND, 


The following fragmentary notes are submitted to the readers of the- 
CANADIAN ENromoLocisr in the hope that they may assist in even a 
small measure in determining the numbers of this order occurring in the 


Dominion. 


When in Canada [ only incidentally captured Diptera, and the number: 
I possess is very limited. I am indebted to F. Smith, Esq., of the 
sritish Museum, for the names of those given below. There are some 
other species as yet undetermined, and which on some future occasion I 
may succeed in getting named. ‘The localities and dates given may be 
relied upon, as I numbered every insect taken, and recorded the date and 
locality at the time. I have included a few taken in New Hampshire and 
Maine, as it is probable they may also be found in Canada. Apologizing 
for the imperfection of the list, | send it in hope of assisting any one who 
may take up the Diptera of Canada. For the labels being lost off some: 
Iam indebted to the gross carelessness of one of our railways, over which 
the cabinet containing my insects was sent. I found great numbers loose,. 
some ground to powder, others more or less injured, and many with the 
tickets shaken off. This prevents my being certatn of the localities, &c.,. 
in some cases, but I Je/eve all were taken in or near ‘Toronto. 


Anthrax fuscipennis, Say. 

I took this fly in considerable numbers on the carriage drive in front 
of the Rev. W. Ritchie’s, at Georgina, on the 8th of August, 1863. They 
were hovering over holes in the gravel. 

Anthrax anatis, Say. 


Taken at the same time and place, and along with the last. Habits. 
the same. 


Anthrax bastardi, Macq. 


One was taken at Orillia in August,1863. [also took one at Gorham, 
in New Hampshire, on August rgth, 1861. 


Anthrax ter minipennts Say. 


Labels lost, but taken, I believe, at ‘Toronto. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. fF 


“I 





Anthrax fulvina,Say. 


Taken at Orilia the end of July, 1863; also at Cape Cottage, Port- 
land, Maine, July 29th, 1861, and up to August 8th. 

Stratiomts tschiaca, Harris. 

At Cape Cottage, Portland, August 2nd, 1861. 

Syritta proxima, Say. 

Taken at Cape Cottage, Portland, on August 3rd, 1861. 

Syrphus Ribesit, Fab. 

Label lost, but I believe taken at Toronto. 

Syrphus agnon, Walk. 

At Toronto, in our garden, Nov. to, 186r. 

Lristalis inflexus, Walk. 

Cape Cottage, Portland, July 22nd, rg6r. 

Eeristalis sincerus, Harris. 

At Toronto in 1860. 

Eristalis nebulosus, Walk. 

Label lost. 

Conops sagittaria, Say. 

Near Cape Cottage, Portland, July 24th, 1861. Two specimens. 

Tachina finitima, Walk. 

Cape Cottage, Portland, August 7th, 1861. Common. 

Tachina apicifera, Wak. 

College Avenue, Toronto, June 3rd, 1858. Cape Cottage, Portland, 
July 27th, 1861. 

Tachina iterans, Walk. 

Label lost. Probably Toronto. 

? Sp. 

At Orilia in August, 1863. Same size as Z: finitima. Abdomen 
black, with a white spot at the side of each segment. 
? Sp. 

Bred from a chrysalis of some moth at Toronto, April 2nd, 1862. 
Rather smaller than the last species. Abdomen black, with somewhat 
obsolete white spots on side of each segment. Eyes reddish. 

? Sp. 
Somewhat like the last, but only half the size. Label lost. 
? Sp. 

Label lost. Same size as last. Wings iridescent ; body black; eyes 

brownish red. 


























178 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


Chrysops carbonarius, Walk. 

Taken at the Humber, Toronto, June 13th, 1863. 

Asilus ———-? Sp. 

Cape Cottage, Portland, August 16th, 1861. A large species, measur- 
ing an inch and a quarter in length, and nearly an inch and a half in 
expanse of wings. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


EXPLANATORY. 
DEAR SIR,— 

The following considerations have suggested themselves to me in 
reference to Mr. Herman Strecker’s recent personal attacks. For myself 
I do not think that either Mr. Strecker’s style or language can be defended 
on any ground. As to the matter, this is furnished by certain synonyms 
in my writings on North American moths. ‘To those conversant with the 
subject, it is not necessary to point out the fewness of such mistakes, but 
it may have escaped notice that in nearly every instance I have been the 
first to correct the mistake,and thus Mr. Strecker’s abuse has come ex fost 
facto and proves itself wholly personal and unscientific. I take pleasure 
in referring here to words used in my earliest paper (Proc. Acad. Nat, 
Sci. Phil., 1862, p. 59). I think I have always lived up to my first state- 
ment, and where I have made a synonym, both ‘‘ willingly and gladly” 
acknowledged it. And although I am charged by Mr. Strecker with 
allowing one mistake to remain “nineteen months” before correction, I 
can assure him that I still corrected it the moment I became aware that 
it existed. Certain of these mistakes have occurred in describing American 
species under distinct names. Sometimes these species have turned out 
to be the same with European forms, and a synonym has been the result. 
I do not think this the great misfortune which Mr. Strecker pretends, the 
less when we remember that in many instances the American specimens 
may be distinguished, and I have suggested that we shall lose a knowledge 
of these distinguishing points unless we use distinguishing names. ~ 
Certainly these are occasions for quiet scientific observation, not in any 
case for unscientific vituperation. The difficulty of avoiding a giving of 
too great weight to a remote locality is even instanced by Mr. Strecker, 
who has re-described a 2 Cressonia juglandis as a new species of 
Smerinthus from ‘ Texas.” The pale specimen, merely wanting the 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 179 


median shade on the primaries, would, if caught, say in Reading, have 
hardly furnished one of Mr. Strecker’s “coveted” novelties. Again, 
instances are on record where naturalists have first considered the 
American species the same as the European, and then changed their 
views and described them as distinct. An instance of this is offered by 
Brephos infans, first described as the same as the European Brephos 
parthenias. ‘The amount of error is no greater in the one case than the 
other. 


At the time that I commenced my labors, the difficulty of determining 
our species of moths was very great, certainly much greater than it is 
now. ‘That this change is in part due to my work I think is true, equally 
so that Mr. Strecker is both unjust and ungrateful to omit the consideration 
from his mind. How much he himself is indebted to my labors may be 
seen by comparing my work on the genus Cavoca/a with his own on the 
same subject. His figures and determinations are taken from the collec- 
tion I studied and the paper I published; and, in reality, his figures 
merely supplement my original work. That Mr. Strecker has so generally 
coincided with me in his specific discriminations in the genus Cafoca/a, is, 
I think, less a compliment to my correctness than a proof of Mr. Strecker’s 
ready acceptance of assistance. 


I have a few special remarks with which to conclude. Jam blamed 
for retaining the name C. ponderosa instead of the earlier C. nebulosa || 
for a species of Catocala. From Linnezus to Lederer it has been 
customary to avoid the repetition of names in the same family of moths, 
and Gueneé has changed the name of a species of Catocala on account 
of an Anarta bearing the same specific title. I have never changed the 
name of another author on this account ; my opinion (as, indeed, cited 
by Mr. Strecker) being that a fresh name is unnecessary. I have merely, 
where two names were attached to the same species, preferred the later 
when the earlier had been previously used. | Whether my descriptions in 
the genus Cazoca/a are the best, I will not dispute with Mr. Strecker ; in 
his comments on C. jonderosa Mr. Strecker forgets that we figured the 
species, in justice to Mr. Wiest, the artist, I think very acceptably. Nor 
will I allow Mr. Strecker the proper authority to discuss the value of 
structural characters in the Lepidoptera, seeing that he has shown no 
experience in the matter, and is unable to discriminate even between the 


sexes of Cafoca/a when the abdomen is wanting. 
A. R. GROTE. 


1890 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


SYNONYMICAL NOTE. 


Dr. Boisduval has recently re-described Eudryas grata (Fabr.) from 
Georgia under the name Zudryas assimilis, with the remark: Cette belle 
espece n’a pas encore ete figuree. It is manifestly unimportant to Dr. 
Boisduval that the science of Entomology is pursued in America. In 
this same paper (Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1874) the genus Alypia 
is erroneously attributed to Kirby, and a citation is given: ‘ Sphinx 
octomaculata Hubn. Zut., 119, 120.” which does not exist, the proper 
citation being ‘ Alypia octomaculaiis Tubn., Zutr., No. 60, fig. 119, 
E20;" 

Dr. Boisduval separates Drury’s figure of Urania rhipheus (1773) from 
Cramer’s (1782), under the new nameof Urania Druryt. ‘This is, how- 
ever, a simple synonym in any event, since Drury’s species must retain 
the name of RAipheus as originally proposed. Cramer himself says, when 
describing his R/ipheus, T. 3, p. 193, “‘ Ce beau Papillon et qui est tres 
rare, ressemble beaucoup a’ celui qui a ete annonce par Mr. Drury dans 
ses Illustrations of Natural History, Vol. 2, pl. 23, figs. 1, 2, sows le nom 
gue nous lui donnons ct-dessus.” Guene$, in 1857, also draws attention to 
this mistake of Dr. Boisduval’s, then only proposed to be committed. It 
has been generally conceded that Drury’s species is the same as Cramer’s, 
and that the differences in the figures arose from an intentional mutilation 
of Drury’s original specimen. Dr. Boisduval’s quotation from Lacordaire 
would hardly cover such a case as this, in which a pair of scissors very 
probably effected ‘‘la creation.” To find another “taille sur le meme 
patron,” would argue, then, a lack of conscience somewhere, as well as 
the sacrifice of a specimen. But Dr. Boisduval insists on other characters 
to separate the two species than the absence of the tails, i. e., the large 
size and the ornamentation of the fore wings of R/zphews Drury. So in 
this case we should have two species, 1. e., Chrystridia Rhipheus (Drury) 
nec Hubn. ( = Urania Druryi Boisd.) and Chrysiridia Orientalis (Swains) 
( = Rhipheus Cramer 385, A. B.; Chrysiridia Rhiphearia Ht 1.) 

A. "Ry GRore 


Our usual acknowledgements of books received have been omitted 
for want of space, they will appear in our next.—Ep. C. E. 


Che Canadian Entomologist. 


VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., OCTOBER, 1874. No. 10 








ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO, 1874. 


To the Members of the Entomological Society of Ontario : 


GENTLEMEN,—I beg to offer you again, after the lapse of a year, my 
hearty congratulations upon the continued prosperity of our Society. As 
you have already learnt from the Report of our Secretary-Treasurer, we 
have been favored with a slight increase in our list of membership——as 
large, indeed, as can fairly be expected in a Society which confines itself 
to the study of a particular branch of Natural Science, and which cannot 
therefore attract into its ranks many who are not specially engaged, to 
some extent at least, in this limited field of investigation. 


It is especially pleasing to find that our number of branches continues 
to increase—a highly successful one, with its headquarters in Montreal, 
having been organized since our last annual meeting. Its first annual 
report has been already presented to us in the pages of our journal. 





The CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, upon whose success the weli-being 
and fair fame of our Society so largely depends, has—I am sure you will 
all agree with me—been more ably sustained than ever before. The 
thanks of the whole Society are assuredly due to the energetic and 
talented Editor, Mr. Saunders, who has been, indeed, its mainstay from 
the issue of its first number until now. It would be well if all our mem- 
bers would aid him, not only by contributions, but also by increasing the 
circulation, and thereby improving the means of support of the 
publication. 

When I applied just now the term “limited” to our field of enquiry, 
I only did so when considering Entomology as one amongst a large 
number of sections of the great circle of natural sciences, which includes 
within its area the study of all things material which come within the 
range of man’s intellectual powers. If we look, however, at Entomology 
and its objects alone, we cannot fail to see at once that it is practically 


182 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 











without limit—that there is work enough for thousands of investigators 
for almost innumerable generations to come. And when we couple with 
Entomology other kindred sciences, such as Botany, Geology and Physical 
Geography, which are so closely allied that no student can safely overlook 
them, we begin almost to be overwhelmed with the vast extent of this 
field of knowledge that we seek to explore. So vast, indeed, is the field 
that no one now ventures to survey the whole of it, except in a very 
general way; each explorer finds himself compelled—if he would do 
any effective work—to confine his labour to some one or two of its 
sections or subsections. _ By this division of labour, all departments of 
the Science will by degrees be taken up, and much that is now a ‘ ¢erra 
incognita’ will become familiar to the patient explorer. 


In our own country—within the bounds of this great Dominion—there 
is need of many more students and explorers. Even in this Province of 
Ontario, the headquarters of our Society, where more has been done than 
in any other part of Canada, there is yet room for a great increase to our 
band of collectors and investigators. | How incomplete, for instance, is 
even yet our list of Diurnal Lepidoptera, and how many pages are still 
blank in the life history of some of our commonest butterflies? Our able 
Editor, my excellent friend, Mr. Saunders, has done much to fill up these 
blank pages, and his work is everywhere recognized as thorough and 
authoritative ; but yet there remains much more to be done, that we hope 
our members will before long accomplish. If we turn to Crepuscular 
and Nocturnal Lepidoptera, we must feel almost appalled at the extent of 
our ignorance. For those who have the time and the ability, I can think 
of no more interesting or attractive field of enquiry—none that will sooner 
or better repay the pains-taking student, whether he looks for fame or 
pleasure, whether he sighs for fresh fields to conquer, or desires to set his 
foot where man has not trodden before. In a department where so much 
remains to be done, we all, I am sure, offer a most cordial welcome to 
one who has recently cast in his lot among us, and has traversed the broad 
Atlantic in order to study the Noctuidz of this country. I allude to Mr. 
George Norman, of St. Catharines, late of Forres, in Scotland. 

In another order of insects, the Coleoptera, much no doubt has been~ 
accomplished. Through the pains-taking labours of a Billings and a 
Pettit, not to mention other good workers, and by the aid of the great 
authorities in the neighbouring States, Dr. Leconte and Dr. Horn in par- 
ticular, we have been able to increase our list of Canadian beetles from a 
few hundreds at the birth of the Society, to more than as many thousands 


—— 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 183 





now. But still how very much more remains to be done? What a field 
of labour there is before both student and collector in the Carabide, the 
Staphylinidee, the Curculionidz and other numerous families of beetles! 
May we not hope that during the coming winter our present scattered 
stores of knowledge will be utilized and made available for the good of 
all, by the compilation and publication of a large addition to our old and 
valuable list of Canadian Coleoptera ? 


If there remains so much to be done in these two favorite orders, 
what shall I say of the remainder, that are so generally neglected? It is 
surely time that some of our members should devote themselves to the 
working up of such interesting orders as the Neuroptera, the Hymen- 
optera, the Orthoptera, the Hemiptera, even if no one can be found at 
present to take up the study of the more difficult Diptera. 


In all these orders there is the nucleus of a collection in the cabinets 
of our Society, while no doubt much additional material would be 
furnished by individuals to any member who will take up in earnest the 
study of any one of them. It would be a great contribution to our 
knowledge of Canadian insects if there could be published by the Society 
carefully prepared lists of as many species as possible in each of these 
orders. Such lists would, of course, be very incomplete at first, but they 
could easily be so arranged in publication that additions might be made 
to them at any time, as our stores of knowledge increase. 


Such, gentlemen, are some of the modes in which, I think, we should 
endeavour to extend the operations of our Society. If each year, when 
we assemble together for our annual meeting, we can point to some such 
work done in the previous twelvemonth, we shall have good reason to 
congratulate ourselves upon real permanent progress—upon building up 
the foundation of an Entomological structure that will prove enduring 
and substantial in time to come. 


Thus far I have referred to Entomology as a purely scientific pursuit ; 
there is another aspect in which we cannot refrain from regarding it, viz., 
as a subject of very great economic importance to every inhabitant of our 
land. ‘This view of Entomology has been especially brought before us of 
late by the havoc that has been produced in our farms and gardens by 
hordes of destructive insects. 


The dreaded Colorado Potato Beetle (Doryphora decem-lineata) has 
spread eastward with great rapidity, and has now reached the Atlantic 
coast insome parts of the United States. I have been informed by 


184 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





friends who reside in various parts of the Union, that while little, if any,. 
diminution in the numbers of the pest is to be observed in the west, it is. 
becoming very destructive where it has attained to its second year of 
colonization. During the first year of its invasion of a particular locality, 
no appreciable damage is done by it, but as its armies increase in geome- 
trical progression, the potato crops of the following season generally 
suffer to a terrible extent. It has now covered the whole of the Province 
of Ontario, and is very destructive throughout the western half of it,. 
though we are happy to say that our intelligent farmers and gardeners are 
effectually using the remedies suggested by our colleagues, Messrs 

Saunders and Reed, in their Report to the Legislature a few years ago. 
In Quebec it is but beginning to be observed ; no doubt it will be found 
there in myriads next year. Across the border, it has penetrated to the 
western portion of Vermont, into New Jersey, down to the sea coast in 
Pennsylvania, and in Maryland ; at Baltimore, Md., it is very abundant, 
while straggling outposts have been found as far south as Washington. 
The whole of New York and Ohio have been pretty well covered with 
the insect, while in Missouri it is as abundant as ever. In Indiana and 
Michigan there is a local diminution in the numbers of the pest, but no 
where are there as yet any signs of its cessation. The people of Europe 
are now beginning—and with good reason—to feel alarmed at the 
prospect of its crossing the Atlantic. The English and French scientific 
and agricultural publications are commencing to publish notices of the 
insect and to talk of restrictive measures, while in Germany, we are told 
that stringent regulations will probably soon be put in force by the Goy- 
ernment to prevent the invasion of the country. Unless some regulations. 
of this kind are put in general force throughout the whole of Western 
Europe, I believe that—judging from the spread of noxious European 
insects on this side of the Atlantic—the Colorado Beetle will soon 
become there as familiar an object and as destructive a pest as it is here. 


While the Colorado Beetle from the Rocky Mountains has been over- 
spreading the whole northern continent eastward, there has been moving 
southward and westward in a similar manner another insect—the Cabbage 
Butterfly (Pzeris rape)—that is almost as injurious as the other.  This- 
insect, an European importation, as of course you all know, starting from 
Quebec some few years ago—there first noticed by our friends, Messrs. 
Couper and Bowles—has now spread westward over almost the whole of 
Ontario. | At Port Hope it has been this year by far the most common 
of all butterflies ; thousands were to be seen throughout the whole 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 185 








season, from early summer to the present time, flitting about along every 
road, and hundreds hovering over or alighting in every garden. ‘There is 
hardly a cabbage or cauliflower fit to be eaten anywhere in the neighbour- 
hood, while stocks and mignonette have been ruthlessly demolished in all 
the flower gardens. Its spread westward, however, has hardly been as 
rapid as its movements to the south. The two maritime provinces of 
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and all the New England States, have 
for some time been occupied, and now I am told that this year it is most 
plentiful as far south as Washington, and that itis by no means rare in 
Virginia. 

While referring to the wonderful spread of noxious insects during the 
past few years, and to their excessive prevalence now, I must not omit to 
mention the affliction caused to our north-west Province of Manitoba and 
to many of the western States by the swarms of locusts, or grasshoppers 
as they are termed (Calopienus spretus). The accounts of the sufferings 
caused by this terrible plague are perfectly appalling, and rival anything 
that we have read of the ravages of the Eastern locusts. Happily for us 
they do not seem to extend much further to the east than the Missouri 
River, though, occasionally they penetrate to some of the broad prairies 
beyond. As a detailed account of this insect will probably be afforded 
you in the forthcoming Annual Report of our Society, I need not detain 
you with any further remarks upon it. 

The only other insect to which I need now call your attention for a 
moment, is the Grape-Vine Phylloxera. Iam glad to learn that its rava- 
ges in the vineyards to the south of us have been comparatively trifling 
this year, and that in all probability the summer droughts to which we are 
so liable, will prevent its ever being as formidable a foe as was at one time 
apprehended. 

To turn from this not very cheerful subject, I may mention, before 
concluding, that Mr. Saunders and myself duly attended the recent meet- 
ing at Hartford, Conn., of the American Association for the Advancement 
of Science. There we had the pleasure of meeting a large number of 
Entomologists from all parts of the United States, and we had the further 
gratification also, of being presided over, in general session, by the ablest 
of American Entomologists, Dr. Leconte, and in the Zoological Section, 
by another great worker in our department, Mr. S. H. Scudder. Infor- 
mal meetings of Entomologists were frequently held, and finally it was 
agreed upon to form an Entomological Club of Members of the A.A.A.S., 
who should assemble annually a day before the meeting of the Association 


186 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








in the place that may be from time to time selected for its sessions. In 
this way we trust that much may be done for the furtherance of our 
favourite branch of science, and that Entomologists generally, from all 
parts of the continent, will bring together their types of new species and 
the surplus of their collections for mutual information and benefit. 


Without further trespassing upon your time and attention, I beg to 
thank you, gentlemen, for the kind consideration you have shown to my 
colleagues and myself during our term of office, and with hearty wishes 
for the continued prosperity of our Society, 

I have the honour to be, gentlemen, 
Your obedient servant, 
CHARLES J. S. BETHUNE, 
President E. 8. of O- 
Trinity College School, Port Hope, Sept. 22, 1874. 


ON SOME CHANGES IN THE NOMENCLATURE OF NORTE 
AMERICAN COLEOPTERA, WHICH HAVE BEEN 
RECENTLY PROPOSED. 


BY JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D., PHILADELPHIA. 


Since the issue of the Check List of N. A. Coleoptera by the late 
Mr. G. R. Crotch, I have been asked by several persons interested in that 
branch of science, if I would advise them to change the labels in their 
collections in accordance with the nomenclature of several familiar genera 
as therein set forth. To all such applicants I have answered, that such 
changes are not expedient, unless they are fully convinced of the propriety 
of admitting them. For my part, I considered them quite unnecessary, 
and still further, contrary to the code of laws of nomenclature under 
which I supposed we were acting. 


Circumstances, which it is unimportant for me to specify, have 
prevented me from heretofore making known the views upon which I 
formed the opinion thus given, but as confusion of ideas upon the 
adoption or non-adoption of Mr. Crotch’s nomenclature now exists, I 
think that the time has now arrived for a full discussion of the 
subject. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 187 





For the purpose of confining attention to the more radical changes 
proposed, I will leave for a future time all questions relating to specific 
' mames, and consider at present only those affecting genera. 


With the exception of some very unimportant examples, these chiefly 
turn upon the validity of the genera proposed and defined by Dr. Geoffroy 
in his Histoire Abregee des Insectes. 

The first edition of this valuable work, in which, as is justly said by 
Mr. Crotch, he displayed “a degree of acumen far in advance of his age,” 
bears date on the title page, 1764*, and was printed at Paris. ‘The last 
edition, with supplements, was printed also in Paris, year of the Republic 
vii, (1799-) 

The binominal nomenclature was first distinctly used in zoology in the 
roth edition of the Systema Nature, by Linnzeus, in 1758, and repeated 
in the r2th edition, 1766-67. 

After the publication of the work last mentioned, Fabricius and 
others, devoting themselves more exclusively to entomology than Linnzus 
had done, divided his genera, and in describing new ones adopted other 
names for several of those described by Geoffroy. 

The names of these later authors have, until the changes proposed by 
Mr. Crotch, been adopted without cavil. 

Thus much as to the history of the question. Now as to the 
argument. 


The most systematic attempt to reduce the laws of nomenclature in 
zoology to a code, capable of being easily understood and applied, was 
that of the British Association, acting through a committee, which 
reported at the meeting held in 1842. 

Without discussing the details of this report, some of which might be 
and, indeed, were subjected to criticism, it is sufficient to state that the 
principles therein recommended were adopted by the Association, and 
without important modification, were reaffirmed by the Association of 
American Geologists and Naturalists at the meeting held in 1845.¢ These 
laws have been accepted and acted on by nearly all investigators in 
Natural History ever since. 

Some discussions having taken place which indicated a possibility 
of improving the code, it was again referred by the British Association to 








* Mr. Crotch states 1762, but I know not on what authority. 
+ Am. Journ., 2nd series, ii, 423—(1846). 


188 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





a committee, which reported substantially the same rules, with a few 
closer definitions of moot points and some useful commentaries upon 
certain rules. 

This report was adopted at the meeting in 1865, and was reprinted 
with notes by Prof. A. E. Verrill, in the American Journal of Science and 
Arts, 2nd ser., xlvili, 92, in 1869. 

It would therefore appear that the common law under which Zoologists 
now act in questions of nomenclature, is the code, the history of which I 
have just given. The only other alternative is, that there are no established 
rules, and that in the Republic of Science each citizen is a judge, capable 
of expounding the law for himself, and amenable to no tribunal. 

I will therefore assume that until a different code is formally adopted, 
American naturalists are disposed to abide by the recommendations of 
the two important scientific bodies, whose reports are above mentioned. 

As the language of all three reports is equally clear and definite upon 
the points I wish to make against the reception of the Geoffroy’an genera, 
I shall quote. from the latest, reprinted in Silliman’s Journal, 1869, as 
being most easy of reference. 

“ Rule III. The committee are of opinion, after much deliberation, 
that the XIIth edition of the Systema Naturae is that to which the limit 
of dime should apply, viz.,.1766 ”.......\(p. 94) 

P. 96. ‘As our subject matter is strictly confined to the dznomzal 
system of nomenclature, or that which indicates species by means of two 
Latin words, the one generic, the other specific, and as this invaluable 
method originated solely with Linnaeus, it is clear that as far as species 
are concerned, we ought not to attempt to carry back the principle of 
priority beyond the date of the 12th ed. of the Systema Naturae, 1766. 
Previous to that period, naturalists were wont to indicate species not by a 
name comprised in one word, but by a definition which occupied a 
sentence, the extreme verbosity of which method was productive of great 
inconvenience.”......(p.97-.) ‘‘ The same reasons apply to genera.”.... 
“Brisson, who was a contemporary of Linnaeus and acquainted with the 
Systema Naturae, defined and published certain genera of birds which are 
additional to those in the 12th edition of Linnaeus’ works, and which are 
therefore of perfectly good authority. But Brisson still adhered to the 
old method of designating species by a sentence instead of a word, and 
therefore while we retain his defined genera, we do not extend the same 
indulgence to the titles of his species, even when the latter are accidentally 
binomial in form.” 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 189 





By reference to the several editions of Geoffroy it will be seen, rst, that 
he did not adopt the binominal nomenclature, except in regard to the addi- 
tional species described in the supplements to the edition of 1799*; 2nd, 
that he did not admit himself any rule of priority in generic names, inas- 
much as he described genera previously proposed by Linnzeus under other 
names, quoting Linnzus in synonymy ; 3rd, that he made no reclamation 
either in genera or species, in the last edition of his work. 


It must also be kept in mind that Olivier and Latreille, cotemporaries 
and friends of Geoffroy, used his generic names only so far as they did 
not conflict with the genera established by other authors up to the date 
of their respective memoirs. They did not therefore ‘revive’ these 
names, as claimed by Mr. Crotch, but adopted them and introduced them 
into the proper and permanent literature of scientific terminology, thus 
placing them upon a new basis. 

It would therefore appear, that notwithstanding the great value of the 
work of Geoffroy, and the importance of the views of classification which 
he proposed (and none will be more ready to admit the merit of his 
labors than myself,) he did, by an unfortunate want of appreciation of the 
necessity of adopting the Linnzan binominal nomenclature, and by not 
recognizing the principle of priority, exclude himself from being cited 
either for genus or species under the existing code, except so far as relates 
to the supplemental species in the edition of 1799. 


In all other instances the names of his genera are free, and must be 
attributed to the authors who subsequently employed and defined them, 
either wth or without reference to his use of the names. 


In order that the evidence upon which I have based my opinion may 
be readily accessible, I have appended the remarks of Mr. Crotch upon 
the priority of his names, and two tables, one of synonyms, the other of 
homonyms of all the Coleopterous genera defined by Geoffroy, 

_ Inconclusion, I would recommend to those who use the Check List 
to substitute for the generic names adopted from Geoffroy in that work, 
the following, which have been in current use: 


P. 37.—FPeltis Geoffr. to SimpHa Linn., and change Sv/¢ha_ to 
NeEcropHoRUS Fabr. Fabricius was the first to divide the Linnaean 











* An abridgment of his work under the name of Fourcroy, with binominal 
nomenclature, was issued in 1785, and must be taken, therefore, as the earliest date 
for his species. 





190 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








Silpha into two genera. The idea of type species, now commonly 
(though by no means universally adopted), did not then exist, and 
consequently it was competent for Fabricius to determine for which part 
of the genus he would retain the original name. __If it was for the part 
corresponding with Geoffroy’s Fe/tis, the latter must sink. Fabricius’ 
Necrophorus, as will be seen in the table, is contained in Dermestes 
Geoffroy. 


P. 42.—Change Zritomide to MyYcETOPHAGID&, and TZvritoma to 
Myceropuacus Hellw., or else cite the name Z7ztoma from Fourcroy, 
1785. The name in this sense should, in my opinion, be suppressed, as 
it was founded on a false character, and should not have been separated 
by Geoffroy from his Dermestes. 


P. 79.—Change Clerus Geoffr. te TRICHODES Herbst., and Zhanasimus 
Latr., so far as it relates to the 1st division of the genus, to CLERUS 
Fabr. Herbst first divided the genus as established by Geoffroy, and 
adopted by Fabricius, and therefore had the right to apportion the names 
to the divisions he founded. 


P, 88.—Stenocorus Geoffr. The same reasoning would change this: 
name to RHacium Fabr.; the latter author having divided Stenocorus. 


P. 51.—Change Cvstetde to BYRRHID&, and p. 52, Crstela to BYRRHUS: 
Linn. 


P. 93.—Change Spermophagide to BRUCHID&, and My/abris Geoftr. to 
Brucuus Linn. 


P. 105.—Change Zenebrionellus Cr. to TENEBRIo Linn. Tenebrio 
Geoffr. is considered by Mr. Crotch to have Asida as its type, and there- 
fore the change was proposed by him for the genus, as restricted by 
Fabricius, who first commenced its division into several genera. The 
same reason here applies as in several of the preceding instances. 


P. 107.—Though not connected with the present subject, I may 
remark that the change of Utoma to Phaleria, and of PHALERIA to 
Hlalophalerus Cr., has been produced by the assumption of generic types 
for the genera of authors who would certainly have repudiated the idea, 
had it been proposed to them.  Phalerta Latr. was founded on three 
species, now belonging to different genera, and in course of time, and by 
the will of those who divided the genus, the 1st species has gone back to 
the previously established genus Gwathocerus, the 2nd became Uloma and 
the 3rd retained the name Phaleria. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 191 


P. 108.—Change Pseudocistela Cr. to CISTELA Fabr. 


P. 115.—Cantharis Zivv. should read Geoffr. The table of synonyms 
of Geoffroy’s genera will show that by adhering to the received code of 
laws of nomenclature, the name CanrHaris Lizz. should be restored to 
some genus of Telephoridae which contains Linnaean species. Of these 
perhaps Podadris would be the most convenient, while for the blistering 
flies, a dismemberment of JZe/oe Linn., the name proposed by Fabricius, 
Lytra, must be adopted. 


Remarks of Mr. Crotch on the Genera of Geoffroy, Trans. Ent. Soc. 
London, 1870, 43: 


‘‘1762. Geofiroy, in his Histoire Abregee, divides the Coleoptera 
into 50 genera, displaying a degree of acumen far in advance of his age, 
which was but little appreciated by his contemporaries ; the ill-concealed 
jealousy of Linnaeus is only too evident in his 12th edition ; Olivier and 
Latreille succeeded in restoring the majority of Geoffroy’s names, but 
there are still several which must be adopted. Platycerus and 
Peltis, often attributed to Geoffroy, must either be rejected as synonyms, 
or, if allowed to remain, be quoted from Latreille and Illiger, who revived 
them. The others ought to be all retained.” 


Table of Synonyms of Geoffroy’s Genera. 


1764. 1767. B77 5; 1789. 1796-1806. 
GEOFFROY. LINNAUS. FABRICIUS. OLIVIER. LATREILLE. 
1. Platycerus Lucanus Lucanus Lucanus Lucanus 
Trogossita Trogosita 
Platycerus 
2. Ptilinus  Ptinus Hispa Ptilinus Ptilinus 
Drilus Drilus 
3. Scarabeeus Scarabaeus Scarabaeus Scarabaeus Scarabaeus 
Cetonia Cetonia Cetonia 
Trichius Trichius 
‘Trox Trox Trox 
Melolontha Melolontha Melolontha 
Aphodius 
Geotrupes 
Oryctes 
Hoplia 
4. Copris Scarabaeus Scarabaeus Copris Copris 


Ateuchus. 


192 





17064. 


GEOFFROY. 


14. 
“1 
16. 


17: 
18. 


IQ. 


20. 


. Attelabus 
. Dermestes 


. Byrrhus 

. Anthrenus 
. Cistela 

. Peltis 


. Cucujus 
» Alater 


. Buprestis 


Bruchus 
Lampyris 


Cicindela 


Omalysus 


Hydrophilus Dytiscus 


Dyticus 


Gyrinus 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


1767. 


LINNUS. 


Hister 
Dermestes 
Silpha 


Ptinus 
Dermestes 
Byrrhus 
Byrrhus 
Silpha 


Buprestis 
Elater 


Carabus 
Cicindela 


Ptinus 
Lampyris 


Cantharis 


Dytiscus 


Gyrinus 


1775; 1789. 
FABRICIUS. OLIVIER. 
Hister Hister 
Dermestes Dermestes 
Necrophorus Necrophorus 
Tritoma Ips 
Dryops 
Sphaeridium Sphaeridium 
Elophorus Elophorus 
Nitidula Nitidula 
Anobium Anobium 
Anthrenus  Anthrenus 
Byrrhus Byrrhus 
Silpha Silpha 
Buprestis Buprestis 
Elater Elater 
Carabus Carabus 
Cicindela Cicindela 
Elaphrus Elaphrus 
Ptinus Ptinus 
Lampyris Lampyris 
Pyrochroa 
Cantharis Telephorus 
Malachius Malachius 
Necydalis Oedemera 
Omalisus 
Hydrophilus Hydrophilus 
Dytiscus Dytiscus 
Gyrinus Gyrinus 


1796-1806. 


LATREILLE. 


Sisyphus 
Onthophagus 
Hister 
Dermestes 
Necrophorus 
Ips 

Dryops 
Sphaeridium 
Elophorus 


_Nitidula 


Anobium 


Anthrenus 
Byrrhus 
Silpha 
Choleva 
Buprestis 
Elater 
‘Throscus 
Carabus 
Cicindela 
Elaphrus 
Loricera 
Panagaeus 
Bembidium 
Harpalus 
Brachinus 
Lebia 
Ptinus 
Gibbium 
Lampyris 


Telephorus 
Malachius 
Oedemera 
Dasytes 
Omalisus . 
Hydrophilus 
Dyticus 
Hyphydrus 
Haliplus 
Gyrinus 


1764. 1767. F776: 1789. 1796-1806. 
GEOFFROY. LINNAUS. FABRICIUS. OLIVIER. LATREILLE. 
21. Melolontha Chrysomela Cryptocephalus Clytra Clythra 
22. Prionus Cerambyx Prionus Prionus Prionus 
23. Cerambyx Cerambyx Cerambyx Cerambyx Cerambyx 
24. Leptura  Leptura Lamia Necydalis Lamia 
Cerambyx Saperda Saperda Cerambyx 
Necydalis Callidium Callidium Prionus 
25. Stenocorus Cerambyx Stenocorus Stenocorus 
Leptura Leptura Leptura Leptura 
Donacia Donacia Donacia 
Rhagium 
26. Luperus Luperus 
27.Cryptocephalus Chrysomela Cryptocepr. Cryptoceph. Cryptoceph. 
Eumolpus  Eumolpus 
28. Crioceris Chrysomela- Crioceris Crioceris Crioceris 
Hispa Hispa Hispa Orsodacna 
29. Altica Chrysomela Altica Altica Altica 
30. Galeruca Chrysomela  Crioceris Galeruca Galeruca 
31. ChrysomelaChrysomela Chrysomela Chrysomela Chrysomela 
Prasocuris - 
32. Mylabris Bruchus Bruchus Bruchus Bruchus 
33. Rhinomacer Attelabus  Attelabus Attelabus Attelabus 
Rhynchites Rhynchites 
Apion Apion 
Apoderus 
34. Curculio Curculio Curculio Curculio Curculio 
Calandra 
Brachyrhinus. 
Lixus 
Cionus 
35. Bostrichus Dermestes Bostrichus __Bostrichus _ Bostrichus 
Anthribus 
36. Clerus Dermestes _—_ Clerus Clerus Clerus 
Attelabus Notoxus Necrobia Necrobia 
Dermestes Thanasimus 
Opilus 
Anthribus 
37. Anthribus Dermestes _Curculio Anthribus — Anthribus 
Bruchus Macrocephalus 
38. Scolytus Bostrichus Scolytus Scolytus 
39. Cassida  Cassida Cassida Cassida Cassida 
40. Anaspis Mordella Mordella Anaspis 
41. Coccinella Coccinella Coccinella Coccinella Coccinella 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


193: 





194 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 
1764. i767. 1775. 1789. 1796-18956, 
GEOFFROY. LINNUS. FABRICIUS. OLIVIER. LATREILLE. 
42. Tritoma Chrysomela Mycetophagus Mycetophagus 
43. Diaperis Chrysomela Chrysomela Diaperis Diaperis 
44. Pyrochroa Lampyris Pyrochroa Pyrochroa Pyrochroa 
Cantharis 
45. Cantharis Meloe Lytta Cantharis Cantharis 
Necydalis Necydalis Oedemera Ocedemera 
Lagria Lagria 
Sitaris 
46. Tenebrio ‘Tenebrio Tenebrio Tenebrio Tenebrio 
Silpha Opatrum Opatrum Opatrum 
Blaps Blaps Blaps 
Helops Helops Helops 
Cistela Cistela Cistela 
Asida 
Pedinus 
47. Mordella Mordella Mordella Mordella Mordella 
Cistela Cistela 
48. Notoxus Meloe Notoxus Notoxus Notoxus 
49. Cerocoma Meloe Cerocoma Cerocoma Cerocoma 
50. Staphylinus Staphylinus Staphylinus  Staphylinus Staphylinus 
Paederus Paederus Paederus 
Oxyporus Oxyporus  Oxyporus 
1. Necydalis Cantharis Cantharis Telephorus Malthinus 
52. Meloe Meloe Meloe Meloe Meloe 


Notes to Table of Synonyms: 


1, Trogosita Fabr.; 3, Geotrupes fadr.; 4, Ateuchus Fabr.; 6, Lyctus 


Fabr.; Parnus Fabr.; Dryops Zatr.; 7, Dermestes Fabr.; 13, Brachinus 
Fabr., Weber ; 15, Lycus Fabr.; 16, Telephorus Scheffer, 1766 ; Dasytes 
Fabr.; 17, Omalysus Fabr.; 19, Hydrachna Fadr.; 21, Clytra Laicharting, 
1781; 24,Prionus Fadr.; 26, Crioceris Habr.; Ptinus Aadr., 27, Eumolpus 
Fabr.; 28, Lema Fabr.; 29, adopted by Fabr. in Syst. Ent., 1775; trans- 
ferred to Galleruca in Ent. Syst., 1792; some of the species also under 
Crioceris and Chrysomela; 30, Galleruca Fadr.; 32, the name Bruchus 
was adopted by Linnaeus from Kalm.; 34, Lixus and Calandra Fadr.; 35, 
Fabricius referred capucinus to Bostrichus in 1775, but in 1792 transferred 
it to Apate ; 36, Clerus Za¢v.=Trichodes Herbst, Fabr.; 38, Eccoptogaster 
fferbst.; 40, Mordella Fabr.; 42, Ips Fabr., Mycetophagus /adbr.; 43, 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 195 


Diaperis, Hispa Fadr.; 45, Lagria Fadr.; 48, Notoxus Fadr., 1782, 
Anthicus Fadr., 1801 ; 50, several of Gravenhorst’s genera, also adopted 
by Latreiile. 

These notes are not intended to give in all instances the authority by 
whom the additional names of genera were first proposed, but only to 
show their use by the authors quoted. 


Table of Homonyms of Geoffroy’s Genera, with their Reference to Modern 
Families : 


WN HW 


DP OI AN 


Lo AL oo | 
| 


x = SS &S SS SS FR 
SRIAAKEY p 


® w& Bw YY w® NW NW 
Vicor as GS is: i sO 


Nv 
~I 


_Latr. 


Platycerus ; Lucanide. Lucanide (Zafr.) 

Ptilinus; Ptinide. Ptinide (Ofv., Latr.) 

Scarabaeus,; Scarabaeide. Scarabaeide (Zzuu., Gc.) 
Copris ; Scarabaeide. Scarabaeide (O“v., Latr.) 

Attelabus ; Histeride. Curculionide (Linn., &c.) 
Dermestes ; Dermestide. Dermestide (Linn., &c.) 
Byrrhus ; Ptinide. Byrrhide (Linn., &c.) 

Anthrenus; Dermestide. Dermestide (Fadr., Oltv., Latr.) 
Cistela; Byrrhide. Cistelide (Fadr., Oiv., Latr.) 

Pelas ; Sulphide... Troseamde. f , * } 


. Cucujus; Buprestide. Cucujide. ( “‘y) 


Elater; Elateride. Elateride (Livn., &c.) 
Buprestis ; Carabide. Buprestide (Zinz., Gc.) 
Bruchus ; Ptinide. Bruchide (Lin, Gc.) 


. Lampyris; Lampyride. Lampyride (Ziu., Gc.) 

. Cicindela; Telephoride. Cicindelide (Zznn., Gc.) 

. Omalysus; Lycide. Lycide (Ofv., Lar.) 

. Hydrophilus ; Hydrophilide. Hydrophilide (aér., Oftv., Latr.) 
. Dytiscus ; Dytiscide. Dytiscide (Zin., Ge.) 

. Gyrinus; Gyrinide. Gyrinide (Zivn. Gc.) 

. Melolontha ; Chrysomelide. Scarabaeide (/adr., Oliv., Latr. ) 
. Prionus ; Cerambycide. Cerambycide (Fadr., Oliv., Latr.) 

. Cerambyx ; Cerambycide. Cerambycide (Zizu., &c.) 

. Leptura; Cerambycide, Cerambycide (ZLizu., Sc.) 

. Stenocorus; Cerambycide. Cerambycide (/aér., Oftv., Latr.) 
. Luperus ; Chrysomelide. Chrysomelide (O/v.) 


Cryptocephalus; Chrysomelide. Chrysomelide (fadr., Oliv., 


196 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


28. Crioceris; Chrysomelide. Chrysomelide (/aér., Oliv., Latr.) 

29. Altica; Chrysomelide. Chrysomelide (/adér., Oliv., Latr.) 

30. Galeruca; Chrysomelide. Chrysomelide (Olv., Latr., Fabr.) 

31. Chrysomela ; Chrysomelide. Chrysomelide (Linwn., &c.) 

32. Mylabris; Bruchide. Meloide (Fadr., Oliv., Latr.) 

33. Rhinomacer; Attelabide. Rhinomaceride (Zar. ) 

34. Curculio; Curculionide. Curculionide (Zzvu., &c.) 

35. Bostrichus; Bostrichide. Bostrichide (Olv., Zatr.) Scolytide- 
(Fabr.) 

36. Clerus; Cleride. Cleride (/aér.,, ORz., Lair.) 

37. Anthribus; Anthribide. Anthribide, Ofv., Latr. 

38. Scolytus ; Scolytide. Scolytide (O@v., Latr.) Carabide, Fabr. 

39. Cassida; Chrysomelide. Chrysomelide (Zzn1., Sc.) 

40. Anaspis; Mordellide. Mordellide (Zazr.) 

41. Coccinella ; Coccinellide. Coccinellide (Zznun., Ge.) 

42. Tritoma; Mycetophagide. Erotylide (adr., &c.) 

43. Diaperis; Tenebrionide. Tenebrionide (O%v., Latr. ) 

44. Pyrochroa; Pyrochroide. Pyrochroide (Fabr., Oliv., Latr.) 

45. Cantharis; Meloide. Meloide (Ozv., Zatr.) Telephoride (Zzam.,. 
Fabr. ) 

46. Tenebrio ;: Tenebrionide.. Tenebrionide (Zz27., Ge.) 

47. Mordella; Mordellide. Mordellide (Zznn., Gc. ) 

48. Notoxus; Anthicide (Faér., Oliv , Latr.) Cleride, Fabr. 

4g. Cerocoma; Meloide. Meloide (Fabr., Oliv., Lair.) 

50. Staphylinus ; Staphylinide. Staphylinide (Zzmn., Sc.) 

51. Necydalis; Telephoride. Cerambycide (Zznn., Oliv., Fabr.) 
Oedemeride (abr. ) 

52. Meloe; Meloide. Meloide (Lzzm., &»c.) 


DISCREPANCIES IN RECENT LISTS OF LEPIDOPTERA. 
BY W. F. KIRBY, ENGLAND. 


The opponents of the law cf priority in nomenclature have taken 
occasion, both in England and America, to argue against the restoration 
of obsolete names, on the ground that the names employed in my 
Catalogue of Diurnal Lepidoptera do not always harmonize with those 
used in Staudinger’s Catalogue of European Lepidoptera. Although this. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 197 














argument looks plausible at first sight, a little reflection will probably 
convince many that it is baseless) We may leave genera out of the 
question now, as Staudinger has not attempted to grapple with the 
difficulties which they present; but as regards species, it must be 
remembered—tist, that Staudinger starts from 1758, instead of 1767, and 
that I should have done the same had I investigated the question fully 
when I commenced my work; and 2nd, that Staudinger, working at 
European Lepidoptera only, was necessarily better acquainted with the 
special literature relating to them than myself. Had I selected 1758, and 
possessed Werneburg’s Beitrage zur Schmetterlings kunde at the time I 
was writing my own Catalogue, or had Staudinger’s new Catalogue been 
published in time for me to verify the references contained in it, I think I 
may say that many of the alleged discrepancies would have disappeared, 
although, in some cases, I may have made use of materials which 
Staudinger does not appear to have employed, or may have seen reason 
to disagree with him as to the determination of certain species. | Unless 
two authors have exactly the same materials to work with, or one copies 
from the other, no rules will be sufficient to insure their absolute agree- 
ment in every case; but by the strict law of priority, the chances of 
disagreement are reduced to a minimum. 


MICRO - LEPIDOPTERA. 





BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, 
(Continued from page 170.) 
ANTISPILA. 


A. ampelopsisella. LN. sp. 


In the preceding paper on this genus I mentioned that I had found. 
the larva of this species mining the leaves of Amipelopsis quinquefolia. 
Since that paper was placed in the hands of the Editor, many months 
ago, I have succeeded in rearing it from the mine.* 


* The specimen mentioned in that paper as having been bred from the Long- 
worth grape -vine, 1s now too much denuded for satisfactory comparison with this 
species, but I believe it to be the same ; certainly it is not any of the other known 

American species, and I have never met with it except in the Longworth grape leaf. 


198 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





It is much smaller than any of the previously described species of this 
country, measuring only :’s of an inch a/ar ex., whilst cornzfoliella is larger 
Y, Lsabella a little larger still, and Viticordifoliclla is scant 4. But it 
differs still more decidedly by having an almost lunate, rather large snow- 
white streak extending along the base of the dorsal ciliae nearly to the 
apex. 


The distinctions between the described American species are as 
follows: The fascia and dorsal spot in zsabe//a are wider than in corui- 
foliella. Tsabella has the palpi white and the anterior feet yellowish, with 
brown annulations. Dr. Clemens is in error when he says that it is without 
violet and greenish reflections ; I find it shows them about as in coruz- 
folicla. Inall the species I should call the fascia silvery rather than 
golden, though it certainly is tinged with golden. J/sadc//a has the antennze 
brown, with faint purplish reflections in some lights; the basal joint is 


pale ochreous yellow, but the terminal joint is of the generai hue. In_ 


cornifoliella the stalk appears a little darker, and the terminal joint is 
white. The head in ¢sabc/la can scarcely be said to be golden, as Dr. 
Clemens describes it, but has metallic hues; it appears to be like the 
fascia, silvery tinged with golden, though in some lights it appears to be 
brown. I have not been able to detect any appreciable differences 
between the fore feet of these two species. The face of cornifoliella is 
more decidedly brown and less metallic than that of zsabedla, and the 
palpi are somewhat darker. 


The most striking differences are in the size and form of the fascia. 
Viticordifoliclla differs from both zsabella and cornifolidla in the fascia, 
which, however, resembles that of zsade//a, except that it is narrower on 
the costa. The costal and dorsal white spots in veticordifoliclla are much 
more nearly regular triangles than in the other two species, in which they 
approach the trapezoidal form, and the costal spot is relatively smaller 
than the dorsal and a little further back, but the most striking difference 
is that the wings of viticordifolid/a are more of a dead brown hue, the 
violet and bronzy green reflections being much less distinct. Its anterior 
tarsi are silvery white, and the head and palpi silvery tinged with 
yellowish. Ampelopsiella has the palpiwhite ; face and head silvery, the 
face with a blue tinge ; antennz dark purple brown, with the tip white ; 
fascia much as in coruifoliclla,; costal and dorsal spots rather as in wvéd2- 
cordifoliella, but its most distinguishing mark is the curved white spot or 
streak along the dorsal cilie. 


a 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 199 


ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
OF ONTARIO. 


The annual meeting of the above society was held (by the kind 
permission of the Provost) in the library of Trinity College, Toronto, on 
the 23rd of September, at 3:30,p. m. ‘The reporteof the Secretary- 
Treasurer was presented, showing a slight increase of membership and a 
satisfactory condition of the finances, after which the President read his 
annual address, which was, by request of those present, kindly placed at 
the disposal of the Printing Committee for publication. 

The following officers were then elected :— 

President, Rev'd C. J. S. Bethune, M. A., Port Hope ; Vice-President, 
R. V. Rogers, Kingston ; Secretary-Treasurer, J. H. McMechan, London ; 
Council—E. Baynes Reed, W. Saunders, Rev'd G. M. Innes, J. M. 
Denton, London ; G. J. Bowles. Montreal. Editor of ENromotocist, 
W. Saunders. Editing Committee—Rev’d C. J. S. Bethune, M. A.; E. 
Baynes Reed; J.G. Bowles. Library Committee—W. Saunders, E, 
Baynes Reed, J. H. McMechan. Auditors—Chas. Chapman and J. H. 
Griffiths, London. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 





BRIEF NOTICE OF MR. STRECKER’S LAST ISSUE (NO. Io.) 


The number bears the date of May, but its issue is certainly later, 
copies having been sent to subscribers in August; its exact date is 
therefore uncertain. It contains brief descriptions of some supposed 
new species of moths, besides its curious account of North American 
Lyczenz, and pretty plate. The description of AZacreglossa fumosa is in 
so far objectionable as Mr. Strecker is ignorant that all the allied species 
have, on emerging from the pupa, a light clothing of scales on the pellucid 
portion of the wings (see Ann. N. Y. Lyc., Vol. 8, and Lintner’s N. Y. 
State Reports) which is easily brushed off. 

Sphinx eremitoides is very probably S. Zugens Walk. 

Catocala magdalena is C. illecta Walk. (my No. 37). 

Catocala aspasia is apparently C. Arizone, the description, so far as it 
goes, corresponding, with allowances for Mr. Strecker’s “scarlet” hind 
wings. A. R: GROTE. 


200 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








PuRCHASE OF INsEecrs.—It often happens that an Entomologist is at 
a loss to procure specimens of certain rare species that he desires for 
purposes of study or to complete a series in his cabinet; he has seen 
them, perhaps, in the collection of a friend, or read of them in some 
publication, but is unable to obtain them for himself. We are glad to 
find that a provision has been made for such cases by the establishment 
of the “ Philadelphia Agency” for the sale of specimens of insects ; it 
is under the management of Mr. J. H. Ridings (518 South 13th Street,) 
and is evidently in close connection with the American Entomological 
Society. The Agency not only sells to purchasers, issuing price-lists of 
species from time to time, but also receives and disposes of collections 
from individuals upon commission. ‘The names, moreover, of all insects 
sold by the Agency are guaranteed to be correct. We would recommend 
any of our friends who desire to procure rare and beautiful specimens, to 
send to the Agency for a price-list. 


BOOKS REC EIW ED: 


On the Noctuide of North America, by Aug. R. Grote; from the 6th Report of the Peabody Academy 
of Science, Salem, Mass., 1874, pp. 18. 


Descriptions of New North American Phalenide and Phyllopoda, by A. 8. Packard, jr., ibid, pp. 19. 


On the Transformations of the Common House Fly, with notes on allied forms, by A, S, Packard, jr. 
M.D. ; from Proc Boston Soc, Nat. Hist., Feb., 1874, pp. 16, one plate, 


Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Nat. Sciences, Vol. ii, Nos. 1, 2 and 3. 


Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, vol. xvi, part iii, Jan, & Feb,, part iv, Feb. to 
April, 1874. 


Report of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, June to October. 
Proceedings of the Convention of the American Association of Breeders of Short Horns. 


Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, October—December, 1873, and Jan., 
Feb. and March, 1874. 


Report of the Council of the Agricultural and Arts Association of Ontario for 1873; Prize List of do 
for 1874, 


Additions to the Library of the Linnaean Society, London, Eng., pp. 25. 
The Observer of Nature, Lawrence, Kansas, vol. i, Nos, 1 and 2. 


Evtomology in Missouri, by Prof, C. V. Riley, from the American Naturalist, March and April, 1874... 
pp. 10. 


The Zoologist and Newman’s Entomologist, May to September ; from Mr, Reeks, 
Science Gossip to September, 

Nature to Oct. 1, 

The Horticulturist, N. Y., to Aug. 

The American Agriculturist to July, 

The Prairie Farmer, Chicago, 

The Canada Farmer, ''oronto, to July 15, 
The Maine Farmer, Augusta, Me. 

The Journal of Education, Toronto, to July. 
The Indiana Farmer, Indianapolis, 

Le Naturaliste Canadien, Quebec, to July, 
Journal of Education to Sept., 1874. 


{LIBRARY , 
oe sormnoB 2. é 


The Canadian Entonialooist. 














VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., NOVEMBER, 1874. No. 11 











ON ENTOMOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE. 


BY JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D., PHILADELPHIA. 





Part I—On the Law of Priority. 





Im Ganzen—haltet euch an Worte ! GOETHE.* 


The discussions upon the subject of nomenclature in Zoology, and 
especially in the department of Entomology, have recently become very 
perplexing to American students. Many who have been unable 
either by want of time or lack of opportunity, to consult old works, which 
are to be found in but few libraries, are called upon suddenly to decide 
for themselves, whether they will or will not adopt changes in the names 
of some of the most familiar and best known objects. 


To all such I have but two words of advice: Res¢s¢t innovation, unless 
the innovator presents to you the reasons for his proposed change, with 
such force as to convince your judgment. Disregard the Mephistophelean 
counsel, in the motto above cited. Use the words only to acquire and | 
convey accurately your knowledge of ¢izvgs ; but never believe that the 
word is superior to the thing which it represents. Thus will you avoid 
scholasticism, one of the great abysses of thought into which the seeker 
after truth is lable to fall. 

With a view to guide the thoughts of those of my readers who have 
paid heretofore but little attention to this very troublesome subject, in 
such manner that they may be able to form independent opinions, I have 
endeavored in this essay to place briefly before them the canons upon 
which all action in regard to nomenclature are at the present time 
supposed to be based. And to these canons I have appended short 





* On words let your attention centre. B. Taylor’s Faust, i, i10. 


302 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





commentaries on the method in which I think they should be executed,. 
in order that we may arrive at permanent and unchangeable results.. 
These canons, as I would express them, are as follows: 


1. The binominal system of nomenclature is the only one to be 
recognized: one word for the genus, and another for the species, to 
indicate each object. 


2. Linnzeus was the author of the binominal system. 


3. ‘The law of priority must be adhered to, so far as the interests of 
science make it practicable. 


This law renders inviolable the name of every species which has been 
properly published, and the name of every genus properly defined and 
exemplified by one or more species. “ 


4. The great number of the organic beings subjected to study 
has made it necessary,in order to avoid confusion,to increase the binominal 
name by adding the authority upon which the name either in whole or 
part rests. 


5. In the formation of new names, reference is to be had to classical 
construction and to the ordinary proprieties of social intercourse. 


Since the binominal system is of modern invention, being indeed 
scarcely more than a century old, and was only gradually introduced even 
by its author, it is obvious that none of these fundamental canons existed 
in the minds of the founders of Zoology, and that the appreciation of the 
necessity of such ordinances. has become apparent only in consequence 
of the confusion occasioned by their non-existence. 


The old codes of rules, Philosophia Botanica of Linnzeus, and its 
imitation, Philosophia Entomologica of Fabricius, do not cover many of 
the most perplexing cases which have since arisen under these four rules, 
although, if acted on in good faith, they would have prevented much of 
the confusion since produced. 


Concerning the two old codes I have at present nothing to say, the 
exhaustive commentary on the rules of Linnzeus in the introduction 
to the Nomenclator Zoologicus of Agassiz, leaving, in fact, nothing to be ~ 
desired. 


[t is therefore apparent that in applying the four canons, their influence 
must, like all retro-active laws, commence at certain arbitrary periods, to 
be determined, not by the judgment of individual investigators, but by 


Syl 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 203 





the same authority which fixes the principles themselves, that is: the 
common consent, expressed in a more or less formal manner, of the 
majority of those engaged in systematic study relating to the improvement 
of classification. 


Now, the 1st and 2nd canons have been already put in execution by 
the rule adopted by the British Association, and reaffirmed by the 
Association of American Naturalists and Geologists, as follows: 


“Rule III. The Committee are of opinion, after much deliberation, 
that the XIIth edition of the Systema Nature is that to which the limit 
of time should apply, viz., 1766.” 

This rule was adopted after much discussion regarding the respective 
claims of the roth and the 12th edition to be considered as the basis of 
the system, and I think for wise and sufficient reasons. However that 
may be, there is no room now for individual difference of action ; it isa 
law,and must be obéyed by all good citizens in the Republic of Science, 
until modified or abrogated by an authority equal to that which 
enacted it. 


The third canon respecting the law of priority is also formulated in 
several rules of the British and American code, but in such manner as to 
render its application somewhat difficult. The following considerations. 
seem to me of sufficient importance to require a definite decision, when 
the next opportunity occurs for formal action. 

1. Itis obvious, on an examination of the works of the earlier 
authors in Entomology, that they.did not attach the same value to the 
fixity of nomenclature that circumstances have since rendered necessary. 
Linnzus changed apparently without cause several of the specific names. 
from the roth to the 12th edition. | Previous to that time, he used the 
generic names in different senses, in different editions, without any 
explanations. Geoffroy described genera without reference to genera 
previously established by Linnzeus. Fabricius did the same with regard 
to Geoffroy, and alsoin some instances changed his genera from 1775 to 
1787, without reason, or even reference to the earlier name. 


It is not until we come to Olivier that we find in Entomology the law 
of priority appearing ; and not then as a matter of principle, so much as 
a courtesy due to the earlier describer. 

I would therefore respectfully submit, 1st, that a rigorous application of 


the law of priority to those authors who did not act in accordance with it, 
will lead to much confusion; and it would probably be better, in all 


204 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





doubtful cases, to restrict its operation to the time since the commencement 
of Olivier’s part of the Encyclopedie Methodique, and to accept his 
decision as final on all cases up to that time, in the same way that the 
r2th edition of Linnzus is accepted as final on the question of binominal 
nomenclature. 


2. If the authors anterior to the 12th edition are ruled out because 
of the imperfection of the binominal method up to that time, it would 
surely be consistent to exclude those after that time who failed to recog- 
nize its necessity. Species cannot, of course, be cited from them, for they 
gave no specific names ;_ but I will go farther, and say that genera ought 
not to be attributed to them, except so far as to quote them in synonymy 
for their generic ideas, which were brought into harmony with the system 
of nomenclature by subsequent authors. They will live in the literature 
of the science in synonymy, but they have taken no part in the formation 
of the names of the objects, by which alone we’ know them and can 
speak of them, and therefore should not appear as authorities. 


The proper application of the fourth canon is attended with still 
greater difficulty, and I fear that the two sets of opinions regarding the 
authority to be placed after the binominal name are absolutely irrecon- 
cilable. The arguments in favor of the original describer of the species 
on the one hand, and of the author of the binominal combination 
adopted on the other hand, are equally strong, perhaps, as regards the 
convenience of science, and each side has been argued with the utmost 
ability. I have therefore nothing to say on the subject in the way of 
argument, and suspect that for some time it must be left to the discretion 
of each student to decide under which system he can work best. 
Practically I do not regard it as a matter of any consequence, if each 
person will destinctly declare in his work which system he uses. The 
number of instances in which any confusion can resuit are few, and the 
synonymy in catalogues which are always at hand will at once resolve the 
doubt. 


I may be permitted to observe, however, that clearer views of the 
respective merits of the two methods would prevail, and possibly even 
some harmonious result more speedily be obtained, if the arguments 
involved less discussion of purely personal interests. It would seem from 
some expressions of opinion I have seen, but which I forbear to refer to 
more definitely, that there are those that believe that one main object of 
descriptive natural history is to give the authors a sort of proprietary 





Je 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 205 





interest in the species to which they affix names. The two methods of 
reference to authors would lead, therefore, on the one hand, to hasty and 
vague descriptions of species, on the other to arbitrary and unnecessary 
changes in genera. Such ideas are really aspersions on the motives-of 
the great professors of unremunerative labor, upon whom science chiefly 
depends for her advancement. The good and true laborers are many ; 
the small and mean minds, who feel honored at being quoted even in | 
synonymy, are few. _I think, therefore, that the harm to be done by | 
adhering to either of the two methods is greatly exaggerated. 

I would prefer to believe that the somewhat passionate line of argu- 
ment occasionally indulged in, arises'rather from a mental fault which is 
too common in this age, which prevails in all classes and in all pursuits 
—the undue importance given to the claiming of supposed rights, over 
the performance of fixed and definite duties. Of clamor for rights, even 
in countries where there is no cppressing class, we hear a great deal; of 
appeals for the rigid keeping of obligations we hear very little. 

It ts the privilege, with the facilities for publication now afforded by 
learned societies, of every careful observer of nature to contribute valuable 
material for the progress of the branch of science which he is capable of 
cultivating. J/¢ 72s his duty to put his contributions to knowledge in such 
a form as to be most easily available to his brothers in science. Whether 
his name remains connected permanently with his observation or not is a 
matter of small importance; he has done his duty in increasing the 
power of work of his colleagues. 

In this connection I would observe that it is only in descriptive 
Natural History, the lowest and.most routine work that a man of science 
has to perform, that any association of names with results is possible. In 
all other and higher departments of knowledge, such as Newton with 
gravitation, Young with light, Franklin with atmospheric electricity, 
Faraday, Henry, Arago, Ampere and Jacobi with dynamical electricity, 
Agassiz with glacial action ; or, to exemplify from our own departments, 
Linnzeus, Jussieu, Cuvier and Geoffroy, all these men are historically eminent 
for their labors, far more than for attaching their names to the objects of their 
study. With suchexamples of high and honest effort,to be imitated byus in 
proportion to our respective abilities, it is surely an ignoble ambition, and 
certainly an uncommon one, that would aim at distinction by having the 
name printed in association with a weed, or a bug, or a bone. 

The multitude of new objects is the great curse of Natural History 
at the present time. When they are nearly all described and named, so 


206 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


that they may be recognized, a period of more rapid and healthy progress 
willcommence. ‘The attention of the lovers of nature will then be free 
to observe the habits and to study more minutely the structure of the 
different species. Classification and economic science will advance 
together to the perfection which will reward the future students. 

One more subject remains to be treated, and I have done. It is one 
that I approach with hesitation, and even with pain. The recom- 
mendations contained in the British American Code, for the future 
guidance of naturalists in respect to nomenclature, are carefully drawn;and 
if faithfully and prudently regarded, would leave nothing to be desired. 

Unfortunately, under the influence of personal peculiarities, the excite- 
ment of political struggles, or the uncongeniality of religious associations, 
the contributors to scientific literature are sometimes led to forget the laws 
of good breeding, which are binding upon all civilized men, and should 
be particularly so upon those addicted to so ncble a pursuit as the study 
of nature. 

Under these exaltations of brain, names are sometimes proposed 
which are offensive* in the highest degree. It is useless to reason with 
such persons on the impropriety of their conduct, or the irrelevancy of 
proclaiming opinions which have no place in science, for their minds are 
occluded against all such appeals to their better nature. What shall be 
done with such names? It is a question which concerns not only the 
systematist, but every collector, every writer, indeed, wlio may have 
occasion to use an illustration from Natural History. I therefore invite 
the fullest and most democratic expression of opinion. 


INSECTS AND FLOwERS.—I have observed this spring that the. bees 
extract honey from the flowers of the [Vzsterza by drilling a hole through 
the calyx. I have seen the big bumble-bees drilling the holes, and the 
honey-bees making use of these holes. Whether the latter have strength 
to bore the holes I am not sure; but it is curious that they should not 
treat the honeysuckle in the same way. It would be easier to pierce the 
corolla of that flower than the tough calyx of Wisteria, and it would yield 
a more abundant supply of nectar. No doubt there is some reason why 
they do not, and perhaps you can inform me what it is.—C. 7! zx Science 


Gossip. 








* [The author here evidently alludes to such names as Pleocoma Staff, Eudae- 
monia Jehovah and others of the same nature. |] 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 207 








_ — ————— $$$ 


ON THE INSECTS .MORE PARTICULARLY ASSOCIATED 
WITH SARRACENIA VARIOLARIS (Spotted Trumpet-Leaf.)* 


BY CHAS. V. RILEY, ST. LOUIS, MO. 


The insect-catching powers of those curious plants, the Fly-traps 
({Dionea), the Sun-dews (Drosera) and the Trumpet-leaves (Sarracenia) 
have always attracted the attention of the curious, but renewed interest 
has been awakened in them by virtue of the interesting experiments and 
Observations on their structure, habit and function, that have lately been 
recorded, and especially by the summing up of these observations in some 
charming papers by Prof. Asa Gray, which recently appeared in Zhe 
Nation and The New York Tribune, under the title of ‘“ Insectivorous 
Plants.” 


Through the courtesy of Dr. J. H. Mellichamp, of Bluffton, and of 
HH. W. Ravenel, of Aiken, S. C., who have sent me abundant material, I 
am able to submit the following notes of an entomological bearing, on 
the Spotted Trumpet-leaf (Sarracenia variolaris), which must henceforth 
rank with the plants of the other genera mentioned as a consummate 
ansect catcher and devourer. 


The leaf of Sarracenia is, briefly, a trumpet-shaped tube, with an 
arched lid, covering, more or less completely, the mouth. The inner 
surface, from the mouth to about midway down the funnel, is covered 
with a compact, decurved pubescence, which is perfectly smooth and 
velvety to the touch, especially as the finger passes downward. From 
midway it is beset with retrorse bristles, which gradually increase in size 
till within a short distance of the bottom, where they suddenly cease, and 
the surface is smooth. There are also similar bristles under the lid. 
Running up the front of the trumpet is a broad wing with a hardened or 
ventral side border, parting at the top and extending around the rim. 
Along this border, as Dr. Mellichamp discovered, but especially for a 
short distance inside the mouth, and less conspicuously inside the lid, 
there exude drops of a sweetened, viscid fluid, which, as the leaf matures, 
ds replaced by a white, papery, tasteless, or but slightly sweetened sedi- 
ment or efflorescence ; while at the smooth bottom of the pitcher is 
secreted a limpid fluid possessing toxic or inebriating qualities. 








* Read before the American Assuciation for the Advancement of Science, at 
the late meeting at Hartford. 


208 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





The sects which meet their death in this fluid are numerous and of 
all orders. Ants are the principal victims, and the acidulous properties 
which their decomposing bodies give to the liquid doubtless render it all 
the more potent as a solvent. Scarcely any other Hymenoptera are found 
in the rotting mass, and it is an interesting fact that Dr. Mellichamp.- 
never found the little nectar-loving bee or other Mellifera about the 
plants. On one occasion only have I found in the pitcher the recogniz- 
able remains of a Svombus, and on one occasion only has he found the 
honey-bee captured. Species belonging to all the other orders are 
captured, and among the larger species that I have most commonly met 
with, which, from the toughness of their chitinous integument, resist 
disorganization and remain recognizable, may be mentioned Asaphes 
memnonius and Luryomia melancholica among Coleoptera, Pcntatoma 
lugens and Orsilochus variabilis, var. complicatus among Heteroptera ; while 
katydids, locusts, crickets, cockroaches, flies, moths, and even butterflies, 
and some Arachidna and Myriapoda, in a more or less irrecognizable 
condition, frequently help to swell the unsavory mass. 


But while these insects are decoyed and macerated in order, as we 
may naturally infer, to help support the destroyer, there are, nevertheless, 
two species which are proof against its siren influences and which, in 
turn, oblige it either directly or indirectly to support them. 

The first is Xauthoptera semicrocea Guen., a little glossy moth, which 
may be popularly called the Sarracenia moth. It is strikingly marked 

Fig. 25. with gray-black and straw-yellow, the colors 
being sharply separated across the shoulders. 
and the middle of the front wings. This. 
little moth walks with perfect impunity over 
the inner surface of the pitcher, which proves. 
so treacherous to so many other insects. It 
is frequently found in pairs within the 
pitchers soon after these open, in the early 
part of the season or about the end of 

April. The female lays her eggs singly, near 
See Beans Coagiavantai thie the mouth of the pitcher, and the young 
enlarged, the natural size indicated at larva, from the moment of hatching, spins 
PARDO hati emeretttieuar for itself a carpet of silk, and very soon 
Wb eed ee locas up the mouth by drawing the rims. 
together and covering them with a delicate, gossamer-like web, which 
effectually debars all small outside intruders. It then frets the leaf 








THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 209 





within, commencing under the hood and feeding dcwnward on the cellular 
tissue, leaving only the epidermis. _As it proceeds, the lower part of the 
pitcher above the putrescent insect collection becomes packed with 
ochreous excrementitious droppings, and by the time the worm has 
attained its full size the pitcher above these droppings generally collapses. 
This worm, when full grown, is beautifully banded transversely with 
white and purple or lake red. which Dr. Mellichamp poetically likens in 
brightness to the Tyrian dye. It is furthermore characterized by rows of 
tubercles, which are especially prominent on the four larger legless joints. 
It is a half looper, having but six prolegs, and keeps up, in travelling, a 
constant, restless, wavering motion of the head and thoracic joints, 
recalling paralysis agitans. The chrysalis is formed in a very slight 
cocoon, usually just above or within the packed excrement. The species, 
kindly determined by Mr. A. R. Grote, was many years ago figured by 
Abbot, who found it feeding on Sarracenia variolaris, in Georgia. Guenée’s 
descriptions were made from these figures, for which reason I have made 
some descriptive notes from the living material.* The species feeds alike 
on S. variolaris and S. flava, and there are at least two broods each 
year, the first brood of larve being found during the early part of May, 
the second toward the end of June, and disappearing with the dying of 
the leaves. 

The second species is a still more invariable living accompaniment of 
both kinds of Sarracenia mentioned. By the time the whitish efflorescence 
shows around the mouth of the We 20 
pitcher, the moist and macerated 
insect remains at the bottom will be 
found to almost invariably contain 
a single whitish, legless grub or 
“gentle,” about as large round as 
a goosequill, tapering to the retrac- 
Mie. head. which, .is,iornished. math, |. 9): ideale ‘scnmitientd elas: eae 
two curved, black, sharp hooks, c, fly, the hair lines showing average natural 


lengths ; d,enlarged head and first joint of larva, 


truncated and concave at the pos- showing curved hooks, lower lip (g), and pro- 
thoracic spiracle ; e, end of body of same, show- 


terior end of the body. ing stigmata (7) and prolegs and vent ; /), tarsal 
claws of fly with protecting pads ; 7, antenna of 
same. All enlarged. 
This worm riots in the putrid insect remains, and when fed upon them 


to repletion, bores through the leaf just above the petiole and burrows 








* These will be found in the Transactions of the St. Louis Academy of Science. 


O10 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








into the ground. Here it contracts to the pupa state, and in a few days 
issues as a large two-winged fly, which I have described (vc. cit.) as 
Sarcophaga sarracenie—the Sarracenia Flesh-fly. 

The immense prolificacy of the flesh-flies, and the fact that the young 
are hatched in the ovaries of the parent before they are deposited by her 
on tainted meat and other decomposing or strong-smelling substances, 
have long been known to entomologists, as has also the rapid develop- 
ment of the species. The viviparous habit among the Muscide is far 
more common than is generally supposed, and I have even known it to 
occur with the common house-fly, which normally lays eggs. _It is also 
possessed by some (stridae, as I have shown in treating of @strus ovis, 
the Sheep Bot-fly,* 

But the propensity of the larve for killing one another, and their 
ability to adapt themselves to different conditions of food supply are not 
sufficiently appreciated. I have long since known, from extensive rearing 
of parasitic Tachinide, that when, as is often the case, a half dozen or 
more eggs are fastened to some caterpillar victim only large enough to 
nourish one to maturity, that they all hatch and commence upon their 
common prey, but that the weaker eventually succumb to the strongest 
and oldest one, which finds the juices of his less fortunate brethren as 
much to his taste as those of the victimized caterpillar. Or, again, that 
where the food supply is limited in quantity, as it often is and must be 
with insects whose larvee are parasitic or sarcophagus, such larvae have a 
far greater power of adapting themselves to the conditions in which they 
find themselves placed, than have herbivorous species under like circum- 
stances. 

30th these characteristics are strongly illustrated in Sarcophaga 
sarraceniue, Several larvae, and often upward of a dozen, are generally 
dropped by the parent fly within the pitcher ; yet a fratricidal warfare is 
waged until usually but one matures, even where there appears macerated 
food enough for several. And if the Xanthoptera larva closes up the 
mouth of the pitcher ere a sufficient supply of insects have been captured 
to properly nourish it, this Sarcophaga larva will nevertheless undergo its 
transformations, though it sometimes has not strength enough to bore its 
way out, and the diminutive fly escapes from the puparium, only to find 
itself a prisoner unless deliverance comes in the rupture or perforation of 
the pitcher by the moth larva or by other means. This rupturing of the 








* Ist Mo., Ent. Rep., p. 165. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ZT 








pitcher does not unfrequently take place, for Dr. Mellichamp writes under 
-date of June 27, as follows: ‘‘ Most old leaves now examined—I might 
almost say all-—instead of being bored, seem ripped or torn, as if by 
violence, apparently from without. You see occasionally shreds of the 
leaf hanging. Surely the legless larva of Sarcophaga cannot do this ! 
What then—toads, or frogs, or crawfish abounding in these moist, pine. 
lands? or rather is not the fat maggot the occasion of the visits of the 
quail, which lately I have observed here ?” ; 

These two insects are the only species of any size that can invade the 
-death-dealing trap with impunity while the leaf is in full vigor, and the 
only other species which seem at home in the leaf are a minute pale mite 
belonging apparently to HYolothyrus in the Gamaside, and which may 
quite commonly be found crawling within the pitcher; and a small Lepi- 
-dopterous leaf-miner, which I have not succeeded in rearing. There 
must, however, be a fifth species, which effectually braves the dangers of 
the bottom of the pit, for the pupa of Sarcophaga is sometimes crowded 
with a little Chalcid parasite, the parent of which must have sought her 
victim while it was rioting there as larva. 

No other insect, so far as we now know, can crawl up the slippery 
belt, but tumble into the tube and there meet their death. 

Certain questions very naturally present themselves here: First, 
What gives the flesh-fly more secure foothold on the slippery pubescence 
than the common house-fly exhibits? Second, What enables the larva 
of the flesh-fly to withstand the solvent property of the fluid which 
destroys so many other insects? ‘Third, What gives the Sarracenia moth 
and its larva similar security? I can only offer, in answer, the following 
suggestions: ‘The last joint of the tarsus of the common house-fly has 
two movable, sharp-pointed claws, and a pair of pads or “ pulvill.” These 
pads were formerly supposed to operate as suckers, and all sorts of 
sensational accounts of this wonderful sucker have been given by popular 
writers, who forgot that there are any number of minute insects having no 
“such tarsal apparatus, which are equally indifferent to the laws of gravita- 
tion so far as walking on smooth, upright surfaces, or on the ceiling, is 
concerned. In reality, these pads are thickly beset on the lower surface 
with short hairs, most of which terminate in a minute expansion kept 
continually moist by an exuding fluid—a sort of perspiration. ‘Take the 
soft human hand, moistened by perspiration or other means, and draw it, 
with slight pressure, first over a piece of glass or other highly-polished 
surface, and then over something that has a rougher surface, such as a 


212 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 








planed board, a papered wall, or a velvety fabric, and you will experience: 
much greater adhesion to the smoother objects, and may understand the 
important part which these moist pads play in the locomotion of the fly. 
They also act, in part, like the cushions of a cat’s paw in protecting and 
preventing abrasion of the claws, which are very useful on the rougher 
surfaces, where the pads are less serviceable. 

Now, compared with AZusca domestica, the claws of Sarcophaga sarra- 
cenié are much the longest and strongest, and the pads much the largest, 
presenting three or four times the surface. These differences are, I think, 
sufficient to explain the fact that while the common fly walks with 
slippery and unsteady gait on the smooth pubescence (the retrorse nature 
of this pubescence sufficiently explaining the downward tendency of the 
movement), its sarcophagus congener manages to get a more secure 
footing ; for not only does the latter present a larger adhesive surface, but 
the longer claws are more likely to reach beyond the pubescence and the 
bristles, and fasten to the cellular tissue of the leaf beyond. Moreover, 
Sarcophaga is more thickly beset with stiff, spinous bristles than Musca, 
and Dr. Mellichamp says that when disturbed it buzzes violently about, 
just as if an animated sheep-bur had fallen into the tube—not apt to go 
down, because it will hitch and stick, and finaily, by main force, it 
generally emerges, but once in a while also succumbs. 

In answer to the second question I can only say that there is nothing 
exceptional in the power of the larva to withstand the solvent quality of 
the fluid ; it is, on the contrary, in accordance with the facts known of 
many species of Muscide and (stride, some of which, like the well-known 
horse bot, revel in a bath of chyme, while others. are at easé in the 
intestinal heat of other warm-blooded animals. It is also well known that 
they will often live for hours in strong liquids, such as alcohol and tur- 
pentine. 

In answer to the third question, the meth is doubtless assisted in 
walking within the tube by the spines and spurs on the legs, which it, in 
common with most other moths, possesses—the tarsi in Xanthoptera 
being armed with spines, and the spurs being quite long, and in se/mécrocea 
usually shod at tip with a corneous point. Its larva overcomes the 
treacherous surface by either carpeting it with silk or destroying it. 


CONCLUSION. 


To one accustomed to seek the why and wherefore of things, the 
inquiry very naturally arises as to whether Xanthoptera and Sarcophaga 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 213 





play any necessary or important role in the economy of Sarracenia. 
Speaking of the Sarcophaga larva, Mr. Ravenel asks, ‘‘ May he not do 
some service to Sarracenia as Pronuba does to Yucca?” And if so, may 
not all this structure for the destruction of insects be primarily for his 
benefit? Can he be merely an intruder, sharing the store of provision 
which the plant, by ingenious contrivance, has secured for itself, or is hea 
welcome inmate and profitable tenant?  Self-fertilization does not take 
place in Sarracenia, and the possibility that the bristly flesh-fly aids in the 
important act of pollination, lends interest to the facts. No one has 
witnessed with greater pleasure than myself the impulse which Darwin 
has of late years given to such inquiries ; but we should be cautious lest 
the speculative spirit impair our judgments or ability to read the simple 
lesson of the facts. My own conclusions summed up are : 


First: There is no reason to doubt, but every reason to believe, since 
the observations of Dr. Mellichamp, that Sarracenia is a truly insectivorous 
plant, and that by its secretions and structure it is eminently fitted to 
capture its prey. 

Second: ‘That those insects most easily digested (if I may use the 
term), and most useful to the plant, are principally ants and small flies, 
which are lured to their graves by the honeyed path, and that most of the 
larger insects, which are not attracted by sweets, get in by accident and 
fall victims to the peculiar mechanical structure of the leaf. 

Third: hat the only benefit to the plant is from the liquid manure 
resulting from the putrescent captured insects. 


[Mr. Ravenel, in making a transverse section near the base of the 
young leaf, noticed large tubular cells passing down through the petiole 
into the root, and much of the liquid manure ile possibly pass through 
these into the root stalk. ] 

Fourth: That Sarcophaga is a mere intruder, the larva sponging on 
and sharing the food obtained by the plant, and the fly attracted thither 
by the strong odor, as it is to all putrescent animal matter or to other 
plants, like Stapelia variegata, which give forth a similar odor. There is 
nothing to prove that it has anything to do with pollination, and the only 
insect that Dr. Mellichamp has observed about the flowers with any 
frequency, isa Cetonid beetle—the Euryomia melancholica, which, with 
other species of its genus, is commonly found on many different flowers. 

Fifth: That Xanthoptera has no other connection with the plant than 
that of a destroyer, though its greatest injury is done after the leaf has 


rf 


OLA THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





performed its most important functions. Almost every plant has its. 


peculiar insect enemy, and Sarracenia, with all its‘dangers to insect life 
generally, is no exception to the rule. 


Szxth: That neither the moth nor the fly have any structure peculiar 
to them that enables them to brave the dangers of the plant, beyond. 


what many other allied species possess. 


PRELIMINARY CATALOGUE OF THE NOCTUIDZ# OF 
CALIFORNIA. 





Partglf 





BY AUG. R. GROTE, 
Curator of Articulata, Buffalo Soc. of Natural Sciences. 


To. Asgrotis Cochranii Riley. (See ante p. 155). 

‘The specimens are hardly to be distinguished from Eastern material ;. 
they are perhaps a little larger, and of a little different tone of color. My 
determination of this species as Zycarum H.-S., based on a figure, is. 
probably incorrect. It seems possible that Harris has described A. 
Cochranii under the name messoria, which should then be retained. More 
material of A. fuscigerus (ante No. 15) shows that this is a good but 
variable species, both in size and color. There is always a uniformity in 
the disposition of the ground tint over the primaries above, and usually 
the broad inner lunulations of the t. p. line and the median shade are 
characteristic. | Some specimens have the hind wings of a pale yellowish 
testaceous, with double subterminal shade lines visible. 


19. Dianthoecia niveiguttata (Grote). (Ante p. 156.) 

In my 2 specimen the ovipositor is apparently broken off. 

28. Agrotis alternata Grote. 

Mendocino, Mr. Behrens, June. Nos. 4 and 164. The California 
specimens vary in distinctness of the markings on the forewings as well 
as in the general color. One has the primaries entirely plain and uni- 


colorus. I do not think there are grounds for suspecting a different 
species. 


> ke 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 915 


29. Asgrotis innotabilis Grote, Proc. Ac. N. Sci., Phil., 1874. 
Sauzalito, Mr. Behrens, August. 
jo. Duanthoecia pensilis Grote, Proc. Ac. N. Sci., Phil., 1874. 


Sauzalito, Mr. Behrens, Aug., Sept. r1th, Nov., both sexes. Nos. 181 
and 183, 123, 147. The specimens are less brightly gray than those 
from Victoria. The male has the primaries more uniformly broken up: 
with reddish. The white shade above internal angle is indicated by the 
pallor of an angulation of the subterminal line. 


32. Hadena arctica (Boisd.), Bull. B. S. N.S., 1, p. 42. 
Sierra Nevada, Hy. Edwards, Esq., No. 3513. 

32. Hadena Bridghami (G. & BR.) 1. c. p. 142. 

Sierra Nevada, Hy. Edwards, Esq., No. 3510. — 

33. Hadena devastator (Brace.) 

California, Hy. Edwards, Esq. Mr. Behrens, No. 193. 


34. Hadena lateritia (Hubn.) This is A. dubitans Walk., of my ‘ List. 
Sierra Nevada, Hy. Edwards, Esq., No. 3512. 

35.  Hadena genialis Grote, List N. Am. Noct., p. 66. 

California, Mr. Behrens, Nos. 7 and 64. 


36. Hadena castanca Grote, Bull. B.S. N.S., 2, p. 156. 
California, Mr. Behrens, No. to (red label). . 


37. fadena albina Grote, |. c. p. 157. 
California, Mr. Behrens ; Sauzalito, May 15th, No. 78. 


38. Hadenacurvata Grote, |. c. p. 157. 
California, Mr. Behrens, Nos. 70 and 99. ° 


39. HHadena divesta Grote. 


A moderate, slender bodied species, resembling somewhat in its colors 
Dianthoecia pensilis. Eyes naked; abdomen strongly tufted dorsally. 
Fore wings dark gray, with the basal field shaded with carneous ochrey ; 
a patch above the submedian dash and extending between the spots, and 
the subterminal line shaded with the same color. There is a narrow black 
basal ray. Ordinary spots large and wide, concolorus, the blackish median 
shade marked on costal region between them. Median space wide, owing 


916 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 
/ 


to the outward removal of the t. p. line; the latter somewhat as in 
curvata, but much more removed beyond the reniform. TT. jp. line 
angulated opposite the cell, geminate, even in its course, its inner line 
forming a regular series of slight lunulations; the filling in of the line 
becomes white inferiorly. Subterminal line preceded medially by cunei- 
form black marks. Hind wings fuscous, darker outwardly, with a 
transverse shade line without the middle. | Beneath fuscous, with even 
common line and discal spots. 


Expanse32m.m. Sauzalito, Aug. 12th, Mr. James Behrens, No. 145. 


40. Hadena marina Grote, List N. Am. Noct., p. 67. 
California, Mr. Behrens, No. 68. 


4I. ftadena flava Grote, Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., 5. 
Victoria, Mr. Crotch ; Colorado, Mr. Mead. 

42. Morrisonia peracuta Morr., Bull. B.S. N.S., 2, p. 114. 
California ? 


43. Lupsephopaectes procinctus Grote, Bull. B. S. N.S., 1, p. 138, pl. 
4, fig. 6. 
California, Hy. Edwards, Esq., No. 73; Mr. Behrens. 


44. Hydroecia nictitans var. erythrostigma (Haw.) 
California, Mr. Behrens, July 30th, No. 165. 


45. Ochria sauzalite Grote. 
Sauzalito, September 17th, Mr. Behrens, No. 161 ; Hy. Edwards, Esq. 
NO. 125. 


This species has a distinct clypeal tubercle, and is therefore congeneric 
with the European flavago. It belongs to Gortyna of Lederer, but not 
of Hubner, whose genus is equivalent to Hydrecia ““B” of Lederer, 
For the European flavago, I have shown that Ochria Hubn. must be 
retained. I have separated Aydracia ‘“‘ A.” of Lederer under Guenée’s 
name, butI am of opinion that for this genus, of which the type is 
nictitans, the term Afamca must be retained. It is not a little singular 
that the species which most nearly resembles /favago in America, viz., 
cataphracta Grote, should have no clypeal tubercle, and therefore must be 
referred to a different genus. In my “ List” I have erroneously referred 
Gortyna purpurifascia, an Eastern species without the tubercle, to Ochrza, 
which, so far should only contain O. sauzalite. The Cal. species differs, 


,) (aay — 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. raw 





oo a eS ee ee a —— 





from G, purpurifascia by the t. p. line being slightly arcuate superiorly. 
In size and ornamentation the Californian species rather resembles ru¢z/a, 
which wants the tubercle. 

46. Admetovis oxymorus Grote, Bul. B.S. N.S., 1, p. 133, pl. 4, fig. 5. 

Sierra Nevada, Hy. Edwards, Esq., No. 2733. 

47. Heliophila pallens [Linn]. 

California, Mr. Behrens, No. ro [red label]. 

48. Heliophila phragmitidicola {[Guenee]. 

Sauzalito, Sept. 25th, Mr. Behrens, No. 169. 

49. Ufeus plicatus Grote, Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H., 16, p. 241. 

California, No. 4414; Hy. Edwards, Esq. 

50. Zosteropoda hirtipes Grote, List N. Am. Noct., p. 68. 

California, Hy. Edwards, Esq., No. 3484. 


MICRO - LEPIDOPTERA. 


BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, 
(Continued from page 198.) 


ASPIDISCA. 
A. diospyriella. NN. sp. 


This species was bred from minute mines in the leaves of Persimmon 
trees (Diospyros virginiana), gathered in great abundance at the ‘“‘ Bee 
Spring” camp of the Kentucky Geological Survey, in Edmondson 
County, a few miles west of the Mammoth Cave. I have never met with 
it in Northern Kentucky, where the Persimmon tree also grows, but is 
comparatively rare. 


Head and thorax, and a little more than the basal halt of the primaries 
pale leaden gray, with a metallic, almost silvery lustre ; antennae fuscous 
above, silvery fuscous below ; just behind the middle of the wing are twe 

id 


} 


918 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








silvery streaks, one on the costal and one on the dorsal margin, the latter 
a very little before the former, and both strongly dark margined before and 
behind, their anterior dark margins meeting just behind the middle of the 
wing, where they are somewhat posteriorly angulated. ‘The silvery streaks 
are not confluent, being separated by the anterior point of a dark brown 
dorsal patch, placed behind the dorsal streak. ‘This dark brown dorsal 
patch is common to all species of the genus now known, and in all of 
them it forms the posterior margin of dorsal silvery streak, and becomes 
confluent with the posterior dark margin of the costal streak also; the 
anterior dark margins of both silvery streaks are margined faintly before 
with pale golden, much less distinct and covering much less space than 
in splendoriferella ; behind the posterior dark margin of the costal streak 
isa small golden patch, as in sflendoriferedla, containing a small black 
dorsal streak (or, perhaps more correctly, margined by it.) In perfect 
fresh specimens of sflendorifered/a the extreme costa in this golden spot is 
always more or less streaked longitudinally with dark brown scales ; these 
dark brown streaks are absent in this species, and besides, in splendoriferella 
the anterior dark margins of the costal and dorsal silvery streaks are not 
confluent and posteriorly angulated as in this species, but are separated 
by a narrow golden line, which is carried backwards between the silvery 
streaks themselves, thus connecting the golden patch before the streaks 
with the costal golden spot behind the streaks; in this species they are 
not so connected. Mr. Stainton,ina note on splendorifcrel/a, in his edition 
of the Clemens papers, states that the silvery costal and dorsal streaks 
are confluent in that species. I have never found them so, but always 
under a good lens I find them separated by the narrow golden line as 
above stated. In splendoriferetla the dark brown dorsal spot is separated 
from the fan-shaped apical spot by a narrow projection of the costal golden 
spot, which extends to a small spot of silvery scales on the dorsal edge 
of the apical spot; but in this species this golden projection is only 
represented by a small golden spot, which is separated from the costal 
golden one by a narrow blackish line, which extends from the brown 
dorsal spot to a small silvery spot at the beginning of the fan-shaped 
apical spot. As inall the other species, there is also a small silvery spot 
on the costal side of the fan-shaped apical brown patch, as well as one 
on the dorsal side, and the one at its beginning. The fan-shaped apical 
brown patch is traversed across its middle (between the two silvery spots} 
by a streak of paler brown, thus dividing it into two velvety black 
(rather than brown) spots. As in sflendoriferela, there is a narrow brown 


NS eg et 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 219 


jine from the apex of the wing to the apex of the ciliae, and as in that 
species, the ciliae are yellowish rather than yellowish brown, as Dr. 
Clemens describes them. Dr. Clemens’ statement that in sflendoriferella 
there is a black apical spot, with metallic scales, in its centre, also 
seems to me misleading ; there is only the fan-shaped apical black spot 
divided across its centre by a paler brown streak, at each end of which is 
a minute speck of silvery scales, and there is the third one at the 
beginning or handle of the fan-shaped spot—and this is true of all the 
species. I have not been able to detect separate from the brown dorsal 
patch what Dr. Clemens calls ‘‘a blackish brown hinder marginal line in 
the ciliae” in sflendoriferella, unless by it is meant the brown band which 
-crosses the fan-shaped spot ;_ but by careful observation with a lens, two 
such lines may be found in the dorsal brown patch, darker than the 
surrounding portions, but which I have not been able to detect in 
diospyriedla. The basal portion of the wing is more silvery than in 
splendoriferella, and the apical portion is much less golden, so that in this 
species the dark brown and silvery hues prevail over the golden, while 
Dr. Clemens was perhaps right in calling golden the ground color of the 
apical part of the wing in sflendoriferella. 

In juglandiella the apical part of the wing is more golden than in 
diospyriella, but less so than in splendoriferella. It has, like diospyriella, 
the anterior dark margins of the two silvery streaks confluent, and the 
silvery streaks are separated in juglandiel/a as just described in dospyriella 
But, as in splendoriferella, the golden costal patch sends off towards the 
dorsal ciliae and / the little silver spot which on that side margins the 
fan-shaped spot, a short streak which is not cut off from the rest of the 
golden patch by a process from the costal brown spot to the fan-shaped 
spot, as we have seen is the case with diospyriclla. The case of juglan- 
diella, like that of diospyriel/a,is nearly oval, whilst that of splendoriferella 
is rather trapezoidal. But juglandiella is but little smaller than 
splendoriferella, whilst diospyriella is but little larger than sa/ccifoliella 
Some of the points of difference that I have mentioned are only brought 
out by the use of the compound microscope. 

Considering the near relationship of the food plants (Walnut and 
Hickory), it is strange that I have not sooner thought that juglandiella 
may be /ucifiuella Clem. It may be, though I have not been able to 
recognize it in Dr. Clemens’ description. Indeed, it seems to me that 
lucifiuella and A. ella are nearer to each cther, though I have not been 
able to recognize A. ela in Dr. Clemens’ description of Zuciffuella. 1 


220 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 





am, however, satisfied that A. e/a must either be Zucifuella or the unknown: 
species which mines Ostrya leaves. I have bred ela frequently from 
cases found adhering to various trees, but I have not been able to breed 
either the Hickory species (/uciffuella) or the unknown Ostrya species. 
A. cella must be one of these, because the thoroughness of my search 
satisfies me that there are no other mines of this genus to be found in 
this region, except those of sf/endoriferella and saticiella, which are~ 
sufficiently distinct, and both of which I have bred. If juglandiella is 
lucifluela, then ella must be the Ostrya miner.  Splendoriferella is 
decidedly the largest species that I have seen, but Dr. Clemens states 
that Zvciffuella is a little larger than it. This, however, is probably a 
mistake, as the cases that I have seen of Zucifluella are even smaller than 
those of splendoriferella, and very greatly resemble those of A. e/a, while 
also the vegetable hairs on the cases of A. e/a appear to be identical 
with those on Hickory leaves. 


The minute size of diospyriella is one of the strongest reasons for 
considering it a distinct species. AZ. ex. a» inch. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


DRYOCAMPA RUBICUNDA.—About four or five years ago I found a dead 
male specimen of this rare moth under an apple tree in our garden, and 
although a good deal rubbed, it was perfectly recognizable. This is, I 
am informed, the only instance of this moth having been taken in this 
city—H. H. Lyman, Montreal, P. Q. 


Dr. A. S. Packarp, of Salem, Mass., is about to publish his long 
projected monograph of Geometrid moths, and designs giving a figure of - 
each species. To make the work as complete as possible, specimens of 
this family are earnestly desired for study, and will be carefully returned, 
or other specimens sent in exchange. 


DEATH OF Francis WALKER.—We have just received the sad 
intelligence of the death of this distinguished Entomologist, who died at 
his residence, Elm Hall, Wanstead, on the 5th of October. A more 
extended notice of him will appear in our next. 





Che Canadian Entomologist, 


VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., DECEMBER, 1874. No. 12 




















THE LARVZ OF DEPRESSARIA DUBITELLA AND 
GELECHIA RUBENSELLA. 


BY MARY E. MURTFELDT, KIRKWOOD, MO. 


Being much interested in the Tineide, Mr. Chambers’ articles on this 
family of moths are the first to receive attention as the successive numbers 
of your magazine come to hand. 

I have had the satisfaction of rearing from their larvae many of the 
winged gems described in your pages, among others the two species named 
above. Now, as Mr. C. seems to have been in some doubt as to his own 
determination of these species, of which he has as yet—as he informs me 
—seen only the imagines, it occurs to me that a description of their larval 
characteristics might afford some aid in deciding the doubtful points. 

The larva of Depressaria (Gelechia) dubitella Cham. is very character- 
istic and beautiful. It may be found during the months of July and 
August on Ambrosia artemisiefolia, concealed in a fusiform case, which it 
constructs by drawing together the pinnatifid divisions of the leaf = I 
think it forms but a single case, which at first consists of but two divisions 
of the leaf drawn together with silken threads. As it increases in size, its 
domicile is enlarged by the incorporation of other lobes of the leaf. It is 
always to be found in its case in the daytime, and probably emerges only 
at night to feed. 

This larva is rather more than half an inch in length, elongate and 
slightly flattened. Head horizontal, semi-elliptical, highly polished jet 
black. First segment horny, black and polished like the head. Second 
segment, anterior half ve/vety black, posterior half ivory white, ornamented 
above with five linear black marks, extending longitudinally backward ; the 
dorsal and sub-dorsal ones do not reach to the posterior edge of the 
segment, while the lateral lines, above the stigmata, do. The remaining 
segments are of a translucent white color, varying from pearly to yellowish. 
They are marked with three faint, longitudinal, brown lines and with a few 


222 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





minute, black, piliferous spots, each of which gives rise to a single, short, 
fine hair. Venter of the thoracic segments and thoracic legs black ;_ pro- 
legs and under surface of abdominal segments whitish. The change to- 
pupa usually takes place within the larval case. Chrysalis slender, smooth, 
bright reddish brown, except the head and wing sheaths, which are much 
darker. Mr. Riley once brought me a leaf-folding larva on Hackberry, 
which resembled these Ambrosia case-makers in every respect, but as I did 
not succeed in obtaining the imago from it, I am unable to say whet aens or 
not the insects were identical. 

In my specimens of duditelfa the purple-brown of the anterior wings. 
is marked with four ochreous spots, instead of ¢hree, as in Mr. 
Chambers’ description, and the hind wings are more nearly gray than 
fuscous. 

There is another leaf-folding larva of the same size and habit of D. 
dubitella, which also feeds on Ambrosia artemistefolia, and which is even 
more elegantly marked in black and white than the latter. This insect, 
which I take to be a true but undescribed Gelechia, I may, perhaps, 
describe in a future paper. I would respectfully propose for it the name 
of Chambersella. 

The larva of G. rubensella is an external feeder on Oak. It inhabits a 
thin web at the base or near the tip of the leaf, and skeletonizes the upper 
surface of the latter. Its length is rather more than 3@ of an inch. In 
form it is elongate and sub-cylindrical, tapering anteriorly and posteriorly 
from the middle, and has the sutures deep. The color is grass green, 
striped with numerous very fine longitudinal lines of purple, and ornamented 
with two sub-dorsal rows of conspicuous purple spots, situated at the 
sutures. | Head horizontal, pale brown, pointed toward the jaws with two 
irregular whitish dashes on each side. Legs and prolegs pale green—the 
latter very narrow. ‘This pretty larva is as characteristic in its habits as in 
its appearance. It does not touch the leaf except when feeding, but 
remains suspended in a sort of gallery of delicate web-work, through which 
it moves with surprising rapidity. It changes to pupa within a frail 
cocoon, on the surface of the ground. The chrysalis is pale brown, slender 
and chiefly characterized by long, free wing sheaths. | The moth issues in 
about ten days. In its perfect state this insect bears so close a resemblance 
to G. roseosuffusella Clem., that it is difficult to distinguish it from the 
latter. It is, however, as a rule, smaller, darker and more roseate, while 
the larva is entirely different, that of G. roscosuffusclla mining the leaves 
of Clover, and being much less strikingly marked. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 92S 








ON ENTOMOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE. 





BY JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D., PHILADELPHIA. 





Part IT.—On Generic, Types. 


“ Tonorato genere proprio, nulla descriptio, quamvis accurate tradita 
certum demonstret ; sed plerumque fallat.”—Casa.p. apud Linn., Syst- 
Mat. x, 1, 13. 

In the first part of this essay I endeavored to show the confusion 
which resulted from the application of the law of priority to the names. 
employed in the early development of our science by persons who had 
no idea corresponding to the law which has since been formulated. 
We will now attempt to discuss the second great fallacy in the exegesis of the 
writings of the founders of the science ; the selection on principles, more 
or less arbitrary, but always opinionative, of generic types, when these 
have not been explicitly mentioned by the author. 


With the more minute observation of differences in structure, and 
the consequent multiplication of genera; has arisen an idea that all 
classification, generic and otherwise, is simply a human contrivance for 
the purpose of expressing degrees of resemblance between the organic 
forms which we collect and recognize as distinct. 


In short, that our best efforts to ascertain the relations of organic 
beings has resulted, not in a system, but in a dictionary. 


This was not the idea of the fathers in science—nor is it the idea of 
many respectable students of the present day. 


The language of Linnzeus is clear upon this subject. ‘ Genus et 
species nature opus ;’ to him and to his followers there was no generic 
type. Each species comprised in the genus was equally typical, unless, as 
in rare cases, it was mentioned as aberrant, with a suspicion expressed in 
scme instances that it wonld be subsequently separated as a distinct 
genus. When dissections were made, as in the fuller definitions in the 
foot notes in the works of Fabricius, it was not because the dissected 
species were selected peculiarly as the type of the genus (for in many 
instances the dissections are not part of the generic formula), but merely 
that the most common and available species was chosen for the purpose 
of giving more information than was conveyed by the condensed generic 
diagnosis. 


224 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 








In the gradual progress of science, and with the multiplication of 
genera, it came to be considered that the person who recognized the 
necessity of subdividing an ancient genus, should exercise his judgment 
regarding the part to which the old name should adhere ; and in most 
instances this was attended with no inconvenience. 


Rarely, as in the case of ‘TEMNOCHILA Wzw., the name of the original 
genus TROGOSSITA was retained for a group which did not accord with the 
original definition ; the new name was imposed upon the set of species 
which should have kept the original name. ‘These instances are but few 
in number, and the exposure of the error committed is sufficient to cause 
its immediate correction. 


I would therefore infer that the practice of some students in recent 
times, of applying the older generic names in a different sense from that 
in which they were restricted by the persons first making the divisions, is 
founded upon an incorrect interpretation of what was formerly meant by 
a genus ; and that these old authors, were they now alive, would strongly 
resist the limitation of their generic idea to a single type-species. 


When the describer of a genus establishes the genus upon a single 
species, either because it is the only one known to him, or because, as is 
sometimes the case, he does not choose to enumerate the others, then of 
course, from the accident of the case, that particular species becomes 
typical of the genus, and must remain so as long as the present system of 
nomenclature is adopted. | But when, on the other hand, several species 
are included in the genus, and they all agree accurately in the possession 
of the characters mentioned as defining the genus, they must in my opinion 
be regarded as egually typical. It would save mnch confusion in inter- 
preting the modern use made of these restricted older names, if in all 
instances in systematic works the restricting authority was added in 
parenthesis. 


A more difficult source of confusion is that resulting from the erroneous 
position ascribed to a genus, which renders it, with the ordinary usages 
of interpretation, absolutely irrecognizable ; as when, for instance, the 
3yrrhide genus AMPHYCYRTA was described by Mannerheim as a Tene- 
brionide, under the name Eucyphus, and the genus AMPHIZOA also as a 
Tenebrionide (Dysmathes). In these two cases Mannerheim’s names 
fail from want of priority, but had this not been the case, I still maintain 
that the names of erroneous position should be suppressed in favor of 
later names which may have been independently given, and correctly 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 225 








defined. The genus being erroneously described, of course fails to 
represent any idea realized in nature, and the sdecific name must there- 
fore fall with it, and the whole name be quoted in synonymy, with the 
error mark ({) appended. 


While I fully recognize the importance of having the same object 
always spoken of by the same name, I must frankly say that the forced 
uniformity aimed at by somewhat arbitrary processes, in a few familiar 
instances, seems to be capable of producing still greater confusion. To 
take an example: our common tumble-bug is equally known to most 
students of entomology as CANTHON or CopRopsius, and specifically as 
fevis or volvens, the first generic and specific names having priority. 
Recently, however, on the authority of Gemminger and Harold, and of 
Mr. Crotch, the specific name Audsonias has been resurrected from 
Forster's Centuria Insectorum. The priority of this last name is not 
borne out by any evidence in the books containing the descriptions, and 
if it be valid, can only be demonstrated by careful bibliographical inves- 
tigation of a collateral kind. It is unreasonable to expect that our 
familiar names for common objects, for it is only among them that such 
changes are likely to be suggested, should thus be altered where there can 
be any excuse for resisting the innovation. But I will go farther 
and say, that where two names have become from peculiar circumstances 
equally known, there can be no serious objection to the writer using that 
one for which he has preference. If I had occasion to write concerning 
the great Aristotle, it is certain that all those persons capable of under- 
standing what I would desire to say about him, whether [ mentioned him by 
his name or spoke of him as the Stagyrite, or even as the Preceptor of 
Alexander, would know who was meant. 

When the different names which have been applied to the most common 
species, have been recognized by competent authorities as synonyms, and 
have been thus collated in accessible registers, catalogues or systematic 
works, it is not a subject worth contention which of these equally known 
names may be used by individual writers. Certainly it is wrong for a person, 
without a careful study of bibliography, to change his habit in the use of a 
name, because the latest authority advocates a subversion. It is by no 
means true in natural history that the latest is the best, and those who are 
not critical students in these subjects will do well to follow the advice 
given in the first part of this essay, to restst innovation,* until they find 





* Confusis enim nominibus omnia confundi necesse est.—C.xsaLp. apud Linn., 
Syst. Nat. xii, i, 13.. 





226 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





that the later views are adopted by those to whom they have a right to 
look for instruction upon these technical points. Let them, at any rate, 
be clear in their minds that the changes are in accordance with the existing 
laws, or let them agitate for such alteration in the current code as will 
produce legally the modifications they desire. 


Other special cases may arise of still greater difficulty than those I 
have here discussed. For the proper solution of these, I think the 
suggestion of Mr. Alfred Wallace* is most valuable. It is that all 
disputed points in nomenclature should be referred for investigation and 
decision to a committee of experts. Such a committee could be readily 
formed in the Entomological Club of the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science, which would dispassionately determine all 
questions relating to the progress of the science in North America, and 
announce their decisions each year. These decisions would, I am 
convinced, be cheerfully adopted by most, if not all of those who are 
occupied in the study of the insects of this continent. 


One more suggestionin conclusion. It isthis: ‘That in proportion 
as the objects become well known, and especially in those species which 
fortunately possess no synonymy, all reference to authorities should be 
dropped, except when dibliographical reference to a full description or 
figure is necessary. If, however, a synonym must be mentioned, let the 
author of this supplementary name be quoted. 


Should this suggestion be adopted, it will result that the name of the 
describer will not be unnecessarily connected with the valid name of the 
species, and one strong support of the small personal vanity which I have 
criticized in the first part of this essay will be destroyed. Another 
important result will be that the maker of a synonym will know that his 
name will be inseparably connected with that synonym, when- 
ever it is mentioned; and that. therefore, so far from being an honor, or 
a recognition of good work, the use of an authority will come to be known 
as an indication of bad or imperfect work, and the makers of species on 
hasty study or on defective materials will be discountenanced. 





* Address of the President, Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1871, Ixviil. 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 7 


ae 





ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 


No. 15. THE IO MOTH—Saturnia (Hyperchiria) Lo, Fabr. 


BY E. B. REED, LONDON, ONT. 


This lovely moth is well worthy a place in the cabinet of the collector, 
and is always sure to attract notice and admiration. ‘The larva, of which 


fig. 27 represents a full-grown specimen, is of a most delicate apple or 
Fig. 27. 


pea green colour, with a broad, dusky 
white stripe at each side, bordered 
with lilac on the lower edge. The 
body is covered with clusters of green 
bristles, tipped with black. These 
bristles are exceedingly sharp, and 
when the insect is handled, will pro- 
duce a very irritating sting, similar 
to, but much sharper than that of 
the nettle, and the effect of which 
causes a reddening of the flesh and 
the immediate appearance of raised 
white blotches, which last for a 
considerable time. 


Fig. 28 shows the appearance 
of these bristles, some of them, as he 
b, being stouter and more acute than the others, and able to erie a sharper 





and more penetrating sting. According to Mr. Riley, the irritating 
pi 28- property belongs to the substance of which the spines 


fact that the spines of a cast off skin, which had been 
y,in his cabinet for years, still retained the irritating 
power. 


| are formed, and his opinion was strengthened by the 





Fine In the earlier stages the caterpillars are gregarious, 
feeding together side by side, and in going to and returning from their 
place of shelter, moving in regular files, like the processionary caterpillars 
of Europe (Lasiocampa processionea). When about half grown they 


228 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








disperse, each seeking a location for itself. They moult five times,. 
devouring their cast off spinous skins. After being in the larval state 
about eight weeks, they arrive at maturity, and are then about two inches 
and a half long. 


Their food plants are numerous. They have been found on Black 
Locust, Indian Corn, Willows, Sassafras, Wild Cherry, Elm, Hop-vine, 
Balsam, Balm of Gilead, Dogwood, Choke Cherry, Currant, Cotton and 
Clover. ‘J, myself, this year found it on the English Filbert, and raised 
it to maturity on that plant. I have, however, more commonly found it 
on the Choke Cherry. The larva, when full grown, crawls ‘to the ground, 
where, amid the loose leaves and rubbish, it forms a rough covering, within 
which it makes a slight cocoon of tough, gummy, brown silk. In this. 
retreat a change is soon effected to the pupal or chrysalis state, and having 
remained therein during the winter and spring months, the moth emerges 
in the perfect winged state about June. The moths are especially 
remarkable for the difference between the sexes, both in size and colour. 


The male, fig. 29, which is much the smallest, is of a deep Indian or 
maize yellow ; on the fore wings are two oblique, wavy lines, near the hind 
Fig. 29. margin, and a zigzag line 
near the base. There is. 
also a large, dark, reddish, 
central reniform spot or 
blotch. The hind wings. 
are broadly shaded with 
purple, next to the body ;. 
eo a) on the hinder margin is a 
We y) 27 purplish curved band, and 
Hoa cca within this again is a 
- smaller one of a dark 
purple or violet colour. In the centre of this last band and the middle of 
the wing is a large, round, blue spot, with a whitish centre and a broad 
border almost black; the under side of the wings is of the same deep: 
yellow ; the fore wings showing the same dark occellated spot, as on the 
other side, and having the inner margin broadly shaded with purple. ‘The 
hinder wings are more uniform in color, with a transverse purple line and 
a very small, distinct white spot representing the centre of the large spot 
on the upper side. . 





The body is also deep yellow. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGISY. 229 





The female, fig. 30, is considerably larger; the specimens vary very 
much in color, from a dark purplish brown to a warm ochreous red. The 
fore wings have similar wavy, zigzag lines ;_ the reniform blotch being less 


distinct than in the male; the inner margin is of a deeper colour, and is 
Fig. 30. 





thickly coated with short hair, like the head and thorax. The hind wings. 
are similar to those of the male; the under side has the same uniform 
colour, and the markings and spots as in the male. 

The body is the same shade as the wings, the abdomen being a little 
lighter in colour, and each segment being bordered with a narrow reddish 
band. 

The moths vary in size from two and a half inches in the male to three 
and a half in the female. 

The eggs are deposited on the under side of the leaf, and are described 
by Mr. Riley as being compressed on both sides and flattened at the apex, 
the attached end smallest, in colour cream white, with a small black spot. 
on the apical end and a larger orange one on the sides. 


—_————_ 


TINEINA FROM TEXAS. 
BY V. T. CHAMBERS, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY. 


A collection of Tineina received from Mr. Belfrage, of Waco, Texas, 
presents some points worthy of mention apart from the descriptions of the 
new species. 

The collection consists of about two hundred and fifty specimens in 
tolerably good condition, referable to seventy-six species and twenty-seven 
genera. Such a number of genera and species is evidently typical of the 


930 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





Tineina of the locality where they were collected. | Twenty-nine of these 
species belong to the genus Gelechia, and twenty-five others belong in the 
same family. Fifty-three of these species thus belong to the Gelechide, and 
only twenty three to other genera. The Ge/echide are numerous every- 
where, and a preponderance of species belonging to this family is to be 
expected in almost any collection, but I have not known any _ other 
collection in which it was so great as in this one. 


The collection contains seven species of Laverna, and another species 
which I have made the type of a new genus very nearly allied to Laverna. 
These seven species differ from each other somewhat as to the neuration, 
and also as to the raised tufts on the wings, but perhaps not to any greater 
degree than do well recognized species of Laverna, as e. g. L. Staintont 
and ZL. /angiella of Europe. Mr. Stainton (Vat. Hist. Tin., vii) enumerates 
only twenty species belonging to this genus, and three others are also known 
from this country. ‘This collection then contains nearly one-third as many 
species of this genus as were heretofore known altogether. Of the 
species heretofore known, but one (if I rightly understand Mr. Stainton) 
is fairly described as white, that being the prevailing or ground color, 
though some others have more or less white markings. But of these 
seven, five may fairly be placed in the white section; and the other two 
are also strongly marked with white. 


The collection contains five species which I have placed in Butalis, 
though with great doubt as to two of them, which are totally unlike all 
other species of the genus in color, though I have not been able to discover 
any structural differences whatever. 


But it is, perhaps, more remarkable for what it does not than for what 
it does contain. As before stated, such a collection is typical of the 
Tineina of the locality where it was collected.‘ Yet it contains no speci- 
men of Léthocolletis, which, both in the collections of Dr. Clemens and 
myself, is the genus next most numerous in species and individuals after 
Gelechia. Tinea, Coleophora, Gracilaria, Biucculatrix, Tischeria and 
Nepticula are also genera usually numerous in species and individuals. 
Yet this collection contains only one Zizea, two Coleophora, no Gracilaria 
(unless a single species of Corisceuwm be held to represent it), and three ? 
species of Bucculatrix, one of which is a somewhat aberrant form. 


All of the species are new except ten. ‘These are as follows : 
Gelechia cercerisella Cham., Ypsolophus eupatoriella Cham., 
% aquepulvela * Plutella cruciferarum Zell.,~ 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. S11 





Gelechia disco-oceella Cham. Flolocera glandulella Riley, 
“  roseo-suffusella Clem., Bucculatrix pomifoliclla Clem., 
Flagno faginella Cham., Hamadryas Basettella = 


Of these ten species, G. roseo-suffusella, judging from the number of 
specimens in the collection, appears to be by far the more numerous, 
though it may turn out that some of the specimens do not belong to this 
species, but to a very closely allied and undescribed one; and all the 
specimens are of a darker hue than those from the Northern States. This 
species appears to be distributed nearly all over the United States, and is 
perhaps the most common species of the genus. 


G. cercerisella was originally placed by me in Defressaria, and I was 
led to do this by giving too much importance to the neuration of the 
wings. It is, however, properly referable to Gelechia. The specimens— 
thirteen in number—belong to a very well marked variety. In all the 
specimens (a great many) that I have heretofore examined, the fore wings 
are marked just within the middle of the dorsal margin by some faint, 
short, ochreous streaks, only discernible distinctly under a lens. In these 
thirteen specimens these ochreous streaks are not present, and their 
place is occupied by a larger snow white spot, like those on the margins 
of the wings. 

G. equepulvella is well represented in the collection, but there appears 
to be some variation in the shade of the ground color and in the density 
of the dusting. 


The single specimen of Holocera glandulella differs from Mr. Riley’s 
description as follows: there is a single discal spot behind the angulated 
line, and two others at the end of the cell, instead of ‘‘ two discal spots,” as 
stated by Mr. Riley; besides, “three tolerably distinct, dusky marks 
around the discal spots” are wanting. Unfortunately I have now no 
typical specimens of this species, with which to compare it, but I doubt 
not it is the same. 


Hamadaryas Bassettella was described by Dr. Clemens from specimens 
sent to him from Connecticut. He states that it appears to be congeneric 
with a portion of Gelechia. The remark is applicable to almost every 
species of the family Gelechide. Dr. C. does not seem to have observed 

its very close relationship to Dasycera, nor, perhaps, its still closer relation- 
ship to, or even identity with the genus Pancalia. The antennae in 
Bassettella are stout, and the ciliation is microscopic, quite distinct in this 
respect from species of Dasycera. The wings of Passettedla are narrower 


232, THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


and the form of the secondaries is different, approaching that of Bufadlis.. 
Mr. Stainton’s figure (Ins. Brit., v. 3) represents the secondaries of D. 
sulphurella narrower and more pointed than are those of D. Mewmanella, 
but less so than those of Basse¢tel/a. The ornamentation of D. Vewman- 
ella resembles that of most species of Autalis. The ornamentation of 
Bassettella rather resembles that of Pancalia, to which, also, I think, it 
makes the nearest approach structurally. 


Hlagno faginella seems to have the transverse dusky lines of the 
primaries darker and more distinct than in the Kentucky specimens, and 
those about the middle of the wing condensed into two indistinct 
fascia. 

Plutela cruciferarum presents nothing unusual; but there is in the 
collection a single specimen which I incline to consider an undescribed 
species. In it the lighter color of the inner margin projects into the 
darker part of the wing only once, and that very faintly, behind the middle 
of the wing; otherwise the line between the two colors is nearly straight ;. 
the markings in the posterior portion of the costal half of the wings also 
differ somewhat from those of P. cruciferarum. But the specimen is. 
imperfect, and I shall not at present separate it from crweiferarum. From 
an examination of my collection of cructferarum, I concur with Mr. 
Stainton’s suggestion that P. mo/lipedella Clem. is the female of P. cruct- 
ferarum. 

The new species are as follows : 


AMADRIA ? Clem. 


A. Clemensella. WN. sp. 


Yellow; the palpi are a little paler, except the outer surface of the 
second joint. Primaries with minute brown spots arranged in transverse 
rows ; these require close observation : one spot on the fold and one on 
the end of the disc, a little larger than the others. Alex. % inch. There 
is also a row of small fuscous spots around the base of the ciliae. 


TINEA. 


TZ. obseurostrigella. LN. sp. 


Dark fuscous; the primaries obscurely mottled with sordid yellowish ;. 
there is a row of indistinct yellowish spots or streaks on the costa, from 
the middle to the tip, and along the base of the dorsal ciliae. Al. ex. 
1% inch. Season, October. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 233 








ANESYCHIA. 


A. multipunctella. N. sp. 


Second joint of the palpi dark brown, tipped beneath with scattered 
white scales, and with a few scattered white scales above; third joint 
white, tipped beneath at the base with dark brown; face black ; vertex 
white, with a central black spot ; antennae fuscous ; thorax white, with six 
black spots, one of which is placed close to the base of the wings and is 
continuous with the dark brown of the wings ; two others on top, and one 
on each side a little before the tip. Primaries shining dark brown or 
black, with a wide white streak extending along the dorsal margin from 
the base nearly to the tip, and a white costal spot close to the tip; there 
is a sinus, or projection of the white into the dark brown portion, just 
before the middle, and from thence to the tip the line between the two 
colors is irregular, with another sinus behind the middle ;_ there is a small 
black spot in the white at the first sinus, and six others along the dorso- 
apical margin at the base of the ciliae, and another in the costal white 
spot, or more properly, perhaps, there are three in the costal white spot, 
two of them being confluent with the dark brown color around it; ciliae 
white, except at the tip. Al. ev. t¢ inch. Season, April and May. In 
nine specimens I detect no variation. 


A. mirusella. N. sp. 


Palpi pale yellowish ochreous ; the second joint has two brown spots 
on its outer surface, that nearest to the base being largest ;_ the third joint 
has the base and tip dark brown. Head pale yellowish or nearly white ; 
antennae pale fuscous ; thorax pale yellowish’ ochreous, with four brown 
spots, two of which are about the middle and one on each side near the 
tip. Primaries white, faintly tinged with ochreous yellow, and with a 
rather wide golden brown basal streak, which begins near the costa and 
diverges thence to the end of the cell, and from thence narrows and 
becomes more diffuse towards the apex, which it does not quite attain. 
The costal whitish portion is more streaked and suffused with ochreous 
than the dorsal portion, which has a small brown spot before the middle ; 
there is likewise a row of small brown spots around the apex, at the base 
of the ciliae. A/. ex. ts inch. Season, April and May. 


I have not examined the neuration, and the ornamentation is unusual 
in the genus ; but the other characters are those of Avnesychia. 


934 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





HARPALYCE, gen. 20U. 


In the neuration, and more decidedly in the form of the secondaries, 
this genus makes a very near approach to the Zortricide. The hind wings. 
are as wide as in any genus of that family. The primaries, however, 


rather resemble those of the genus //aguo, and the palpi also ally it to the 
Gelechide. 


Wings nearly horizontal (in the dead insect). 


In the primaries the costa is regularly arched, and the wing is widest 
about the middle ; the costa attains the margin behind the middle ;_ the 
cell is rather narrow ; the subcostal gives off four branches to the margin 
before the end of the cell, the first and longest of which arises before the 
middle, and the last of which arises close to the end of the cell, and 
reaches the costal margin close to the apex ; the apical branch reaches the 
apex or the margin close to and beneath it ; the discal vein gives off two 
branches ; the median gives off, close to the end of the cell, a single ® 
branch, which becomes furcate, and the apical branch runs to the margin, 
parallel to the discal branches ; the fold is thickened at the end, and the 
submedian vein is long and furcate at the base. 


The secondaries are at least one-half wider than the primaries, their 
width being equal to about two-thirds of the length ; the costa is strongly 
arched near the base, and very faintly sinuate before the apex, which is 
rounded, and the dorsal margin very faintly sinuate beneath it ; the costal 
vein is sinuate from the margin and almost coincident with the subcostal 
towards the base, and attains the margin near the apex ;_ the cell is wide ; 
the subcostal is furcate behind the cell, with the superior branch delivered 
to the apex; the discal vein is curved or angulated, the angle pointing 
towards the base, and wcav the median it is again angulated, the angle 
pointing backwards, and a branch proceeds from it to the margin ;_ the 
median sends a branch from behind the middle to the margin, and from 
the origin of the branch bends up to its union with the discal, at which it 
becomes furcate. Submedian and internal veins distinct. In one of the 
species (canusella) the costa is not so much arched, and the posterior 
margin not at all sinuate beneath the apex, and the discal vein is curved 
(not angulated) and unites with the median without forming a second 
angle, what I have described as the discal branch vein, being continuous: 


with the median and arising from a common origin with the furcate 
branch. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. Daa 





Tongue rather short; maxillary palpi minute ; labial palpi simple, 
slender, slightly overarching the vertex, the third joint about half as long 
as the second, and pointed ; antennae simple, more than half as long as 
the primaries, with the basal joint short and a little enlarged; scales of 
the posterior portion of the vertex a little roughened, but not forming a 
tuft ; eyes globose, of moderate size ; ocelli, none. 


ff, tortricella. N. sp. 

Yellowish or straw color; head and hind wings paler, nearly white ; 
there is a minute, pale brownish spot at the end of the disc. <A]. ex. 34 
inch. Season, May. 


FT. albeila. NN. sp. 

White ; a minute, indistinct, ochreous spot at the end of the disc, on 
the forewings, and a very few widely scattered dark brown scales. There 
is a brownish, ochreous streak on the outer surface of the second joint of 
the palpi. Al, ex. 16 inch. Season, June, July and August. 


FT, canusella. NN. Sp. 

Pale grayish, almost white, with obscure patches of very pale fuscous: 
on the primaries ; a small brown spot within the dorsal margin, before the 
middle ; another a little behind it on the fold, and another at the end of 
the disc. At the beginning of the ciliae is an obscure, narrow, curved,. 
pale fascia, which is very concave towards the base of the wing. Ad. ex. 
Ys inch. 


GELECHIA. 


G. thoracealbella. N. sp. 


Second joint of the palpi brush-like, the brush spreading and faintly 
divided; third joint slender, more than half as long as the second. 

Palpi whitish, the second joint ochreous brown at the base, and the 
scales of the brush tipped with ochreous yellow ; face, head, and a wide 
streak from the head to the apex of the thorax, white. Antennae, sides 
of thorax over the wings, and the primaries brown, the primaries very 
faintly streaked with whitish towards the apex. AZ. ex. 1's inch. 


G. minimaculella. LN. Sp. 


Second joint of palpi brush-like; third more than half as long as the 
second. 


a0 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. : 











Head and palpi ochreous yellow ;_ palpi with the base of the second 
joint, a spot on its outer surface, near the tip, and a ring around the third 
joint, near the tip, dark brown; antennae dark brown ; thorax brownish 
ochreous above, except the sides just above the wings, which are dark 
brown like the primaries, and, like them, faintly tinged in some lights 
with a bluish cast. Near the base of the primaries, extending from the 
costa to the fold, is a narrow, irregular, interrupted, somewhat oblique 
ochrecus yellow line or series of small spots; there are three or four 
minute ochreous yellow spots on the disc, and a spot of the same hue 
about the beginning of the dorsal ciliae, and an opposite costal one. AZ. 
ex. 34 inch. 


G. ochreosufusella. NN. sp. 


Second joint of the palpi brush-like; third joint about half as long as 
the second. 


Insect dark brown; second joint of the palpi above sprinkled with 
white or pale yellow scales ; third joint ochreous or yellowish, except at 
the base and a narrow annulus before the middle, which are dark brown ; 
head ochreous, densely dusted with dark brown, so as almost to obscure 
the ground color ; thorax, base of the wings, and a streak along the fold 
suffused with reddish ochreous ; primaries sparsely dusted with whitish 
and with a reddish ochreous streak at the base near the costa, as well as 
that on the fold, and with the costal and dorsal spots faintly indicated. 
The white dusting of the primaries is sometimes very distinct, and it 
forms an interrupted fascia or rather a line of small specks across the 
wing, just before the ciliae. Ad. ex. 34 inch. 


G. depresso-strigella. iN. sp. 
Second joint of the palpi brush-like ; third joint about half as long as 
the second. 


Brown, with a grayish ochreous tinge, the wings streaked with ochreous 
and the palpi sprinkled with whitish scales. Thorax, basal portion of the 
wings, and a streak along the fold suffused with reddish ochreous ; four 
very indistinct, oblique, dark brown lines extend along the disc, and the 
spaces between the veins in the apical part of the wing are each marked 
with a similar line, and all of these lines appear to be depressed or sunken 
below the general surface of the wing. Al. ex. 34 inch. Season, July, 
August and September. It resembles the preceding species, but the 


Se ee 


iy 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. . OST 





brush is smaller, color of the head and palpi different, and the narrow 
longitudinal depressed brown lines separate it from that species. 


G. pallidagriseella. N. sp. 


Second joint of the palpi brush-like; third joint about half as long as ~ 


the second. 

Palpi and head whitish, almost hoary. — Pale yellowish gray, a little 
suffused with ochreous on the thotax and primaries. There is a minute 
rust red spot about the middle of the disc ; extreme costa dark brown at 
the base ; antennae dark brown. AZ. ex. 34 inch. 


G. qguadrimaculella. LV. sp. 


Third joint of palpi longer than the second; palpi not at all brush-like. 

Dark brown, in some lights tinged with ash gray ; a small dark brown 
spot on the fold within the basal fourth of the primaries ; another also on 
the fold about the middle ; another near it, about the middle of the disc, 
and another at the end of it. AZ ex. ¥ inch. Season, May. The 
brown spots are very indistinct, differing but little from the general hue. 


G. Wacoella. WN. sp. | 

Second joint of palpi with a small brush, third about as long as the 
second. 

Ochreous, sprinkled above with dark brown ; third joint dark’ brown; 
head and thorax dark brown, with a faint ochreous tinge. Primaries dark 
brown ; two ochreous spots on the costal margin near the base, another 
at the beginning of the ciliae, and two small spots of the same hue on the 
fold before the middle. AZ. ex. +6 inch. 


G. crescentifasciella. LN. sp. 


Palpi not brush-like; third joint about as long as second. 


Ash gray, microscopically dusted with brown ; there is a crescentic, very 
indistinct pale fascia at the beginning of the ciliae, very concave towards 
the base of the wing ; one or two minute dark spots on the disc, and one 
at its apex. AZ ex. %inch. Season, Apriland May. It resembles G. 
guadrimaculella, but is smaller and of a more ashen hue. Sometimes the 
fascia is absent. 


G. pullusella. NN. sp. 
Palpi slender, simple, third joint more than half as long as the second. 


238 | THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGTST. 





Brown, microscopically sprinkled obscurely with whitish scales. 4Z 
ex, 7s inch. Season, August. 


G. plutela. WN. sp. 


Palpi simple, slender ; third joint more than half as long as the SCCONA, 
and pointed. 

Face and palpi white; vertex pale yellowish, with a dusky central 
spot ; antennae pale yellowish ; patagia and costal half of the primaries, 
almost ‘to the tip, creamy white; thorax and dorsal half of primaries and 
the tip dark brown ; the whitish portion of the primaries is widest at the 
base, and the dark brown portion at the apex, and the whitish part sends 
two short, oblique projections into the brown one just before the middle 
and the other just behind it. AZ ex. % inch. Season, August. 


The ornamentation of the wings bears considerable resemblance to 
that of Plutella cruciferarum, except that the colors are reversed. 


G. sella. LV. sp. 


Second joint of the palpi thickened bencath towards the tip, but not at all 
brush-like; third joint more than half as long as the second. 


Head yellowish white, sometimes with a wide longitudinal brownish 
streak on the vertex. Palpi very pale yellowish, with the second joint 
externally brown and internally streaked or sprinkled with brown, and the 
third joint, with the tip and a band around the middle, dark brown. 
Thorax and primaries pale ochreous gray; under the microscope pale 
ochreous yellow, somewhat dusted with fuscous. There is a velvety dark 


brown spot on the fold, not far from the base, behind which is usually a | 


dark brown dorsal streak, extending more than half across the wing, 
perpendicular to the margin, placed before the middle, but sometimes it 
is represented only by a triangular spot on the fold, and which does not 
touch the margin ; and there is another small spot of the same hue at the 
end of the cell, and surrounded by a paler annulus; base of the costal 
margin and six or seven small spots along the costa dark brown, the last 
of which is just before the ciliae ; and there is a narrow ochreous basal 
streak just within the costal margin; occasionally the spots along the 
costa are absent. AZ. ex. % inch. Season, July and September. Itisa 
handsome species. 


G. trimaculella, N. sp. 








_——a 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 239 


Second joint of the palpi scarcely thickened beneath; third half as long 
as the second ; acuminate. 


Head, antennae and palpi pale yellowish white ; third joint of the 
palpi tinged with fuscous. Thorax and primaries very pale ochreous 
yellow (under the lens sparsely and minutely dusted with pale reddish 
ochreous scales); two small, nearly circular, blackish spots before the 
middle, one beneath the fold, the second on the disc, a little behind the 
first one ; and a larger one of the same hue at the end of the disc, and a 
row of minute, dark brown spots around the base of the ciliae. Al. ex. 
1% inch. Season, April and May. 


G. clegantella. N. sp. 


Second joint of palpi scarcely thickened beneath ; third more than half as 
long as second. 


Palpi white ; second joint yellowish towards the tip, the third with 
three brown annulations, one at the base, one before the middle, and one 
before the tip, sometimes connected by a line along the under surface ; 
head and thorax sordid white or yellowish, slightly iridescent ; base of the 
primaries white, iridescent, narrow, but wider on the dorsal than on the 
costal margin ; this is followed by an oblique, ochreous or yellowish orange 
band, which crosses the wing and is margined with brown before and 
behind, and followed by an oblique white band, which also crosses the 
wing, and is rather widely margined behind by an iridescent, brown line, 
terminating at a smooth tuft of raised scales on the dorsal margin, the tuft 
or rather smooth. elevation being metallic and highly iridescent, as also are 
the brown margins of the ochreous bands; the dark brown, posterior 
margin of the second brown fascia is produced backwards along the disc 
and passes backwards along the disc, inclining towards, but not reaching 
the base of the dorsal ciliae, and containing three smooth, metallic 
elevations, like the one on the dorsal margin, the wing between it and the 
costa being white, and between it and the dorsal margin the wing is white 
and pale ochreous. ‘The oblique streak terminates just before the dorsal 
ciliae at a curved fascia, which is very convex towards the base, is reddish 
ochreous on the dorsal margin, and brown on the costal margin. This 
curved fascia is followed by an oblique one, which is nearest to the tip on 
the costal margin, and the costal portion of it is wide and white, and the 
dorsal portion brown, and in some lights is brilliant metallic; the brown 
portion is narrow where it meets the white cpstal portion, and passes 


240 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








around behind it to the costal margin, and thence curves as a narrow line 
backwards around the apex at the base of the ciliae, returning to its origin 
on the dorsal margin, thus enclosing an oblong, egg-yellow or golden 
patch, parallel with the base of the dorsal ciliae. In some lights. this. 
fascia is dull brown, not at all metallic, and the yellowish ochreous parts. 
of the wing become almost brick red; and, in truth, all the colors of the 
wing, except the dark velvety brown streak which passes obliquely the 
disc, are so variable that it is very difficult to give an adequate or intelligible 
description of the insect. The ciliae are fuscous. Al. ex. 38 inch. 
Season, May, August and’September. I have also received it from Miss. 
Maurtfeldt, from St. Louis. 


This species belongs to the same group with G. voseo-suffusella, &c., 
and is the prettiest Ge/echia that I have seen. 


G. rufusela. LN. sp. 

Second joint of the palpi somewhat thickened beneath before the apex 
(nearly as in the European G. populella); third joint a Little longer than 
the second. 

Palpi white ; second joint externally dark brown at the base. Head, 
thorax and base of the primaries yellowish white, with a faint reddish 
tinge, which gradually deepens and becomes more distinct as it passes. 
backwards over the wings, and about the basal one-fourth becomes bright 
brick red, and continuing to deepen, becomes tinged with fuscous at the 


apex. Antennae brown, annulate with pale yellow. Ad ex. % inch. 
Sometimes the primaries are sparsely dusted with brown. Seasony 
September. 7 


G. costarufoella. LN. sp. 


Second joint of the palpi clavate, not brush-like, brown, tipped with 
yellowish ; third joint pale yellowish. Antennae brown; head, thorax, 
base of the primaries, and costal margin to beyond"the middle, rufous ; 
the remainder of the primaries brown, with four small yellow spots, two 
of which are on the fold, and two on the disc, and a fifth small one at the 
beginning cf the costal ciliae ; ciliae brown, pale at their base. 4/ ex.a 
little over % inch. Season, September. 


“ 


G. subruberella. LN. sp. 


Labial palpi, with the second joint of the palpi, a little thickened before 


the tip, as in rufusella. 








THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. NAY 





Pale ochreous, faintly tinged with rufous, streaked and blotched with 
brick red along the base of the dorsal ciliae ; a minute rufous spot on the 
fold, and a circular brown one at the end of the disc, with a small one 
before it. AZ ex. % inch. Season, October. Very near to rufusella, 
perhaps a variety. The palpi are precisely as in that species as to form 
and colors, but the general hue is much paler. 


G. maculimarginela,  N. sp. 


Second yout of the palpi a little brush-like, yeowish, dusted with dark 
brown; third joint dark brown, with extreme tip and a few scattered 
scales white ; about as long as the second. Antennae dark brown ; head 
pale ochreous yellow and brown; thorax and primaries dark gray brown, 
spotted with darker colors; one of the spots is on the costa near the 
base, and there is a smail yellowish spot before it and another behind it, 
and beyond that is another of the dark spots ; there is a dark spot on the 
fold, with a small yellowish one before it; a small dark spot about the 
centre of the disc, without any yellow spot before it, and about the end 
of the disc is another dark spot, with a smail yellow one before it. There 
is a pale yellowish streak at the beginning of the costal ciliae, and an 
opposite dorsal one. A/. ex. 4% inch. Season, July. 


G. argenti-albella. WN. sp. 


Second joint of the palpi scarcely thickened beneath ; the third more than 
half the length of second. 


Silvery white; each joint of the palpi has a dark brown annulus 
before the tip; there are a few blackish scales over the base of the 
antennae, which are annulate with brown; a small dark brown spot on 
the extreme costa at the base, followed by three others within the margin, 


_and there is also a small one within the dorsal margin near the base ; 
there is a transverse brown spot or line on the fold, and another at the 


end of the disc, a brownish fascia at the beginning of the ciliae, and a 
brownish golden streak around the apex at the base of the ciliae. AZ. 


ex. 7% inch. Season, June. A rather pretty and distinctly marked 
species, like G. varitella, but I think it is quite distinct from it. 


G. bidiscomaculella, N. sp. 


Pale ochreous, becoming a little deeper towards the apex of the 
primaries; there is a small brown spot about the middle of the disc, 


FAP THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





another at its end, and a brown streak along the base of the costal ciliae. 
Al, ex. 3g inch. Season, July. I have but a single specimen, and in it 
the palpi are missing. Allied to swbruberella ; perhaps a variety of it. 


G. subalbusella. LV. sp. 
Second joint of the palpi not thickened. ; 


Creamy white, sparsely dusted with ochreous yellow and brown. Ad. 
ex. 3g inch. Season, July. | 


G. parvipulvella. LV. sp. 
Palpi simple. 
Pale yellowish white, lightly dusted with fuscous, the dusting more 


dense towards the apex of the primaries. Al. ex. 3g inch. Season, May 
and August. Possibly a variety of G. subalbusella, 


G. lavernella. LV. sp. 


Second joint of the palpi a little thickened beneath towards the apex ; 
third joint rather thick. 


Palpi ochreous, with the basal half of the second joint and a band 
before its tip, dark brown; an annulus before the middle of the third. 
joint, and another wide one before its tip, dark brown. . Thorax and 
primaries gray; base of the costal margin dark brown, and from it a 
narrow, oblique, dark brown streak crosses the wing to the dorsal margin, 
in its course crossing almost at right angles an indistinct brown line 
which proceeds from a brown spot on the costal margin, and passes 
obliquely forwards nearly to the base of the wing; and at the intersection 
of the lines the brown color spreads around them, forming another spot ;. 
these lines are irregular, and in some parts indistinct ; behind these lines 
the wing is densely dusted with fuscous to the tip, and a brown fascia is 
well indicated at the beginning of the ciliae. A/. ex. % inch. There is. 
something in the clumsy looking palpi and general appearance which 
reminds one of a Laverna. 


G. cilialineclla. WN. sp. 


Only microscopically distinguishable from G. solaniella. | Ochreous, 
tinged slightly with grayish ; there is an indistinct brownish spot on the 
fold, and another a little behind it on the disc, and another in the apical 
part of the wing. Costal ciliae whitish, azd a narrow, indistinct, white 











THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 943 





line at their base, and one also at the base of the dorsal cilia, and three dark 
brown hinder marginal lines in the apical cilia. Al. ex. Y%-inch. 


G. minimella. WL. sp. 
Palpi simple. 


Insect dark brown, indistinctly sprinkled with white. Al. ex. 34 inch. 
The neuration is nearly that of C/eodora. 


ANARSIA. 


A. suffusella. NN. sp. 


Ochreous yellow, somewhat suffused with fuscous. Outer surface of 
the second joint of the palpi dark brown, tipped with ochreous; third 
joint pale yellowish. The third- joint of the palpi is more slender than 
in A. pruniella Clem., and the fascia is narrower. Al. ex. 34 inch. Season 
April. 


A. trimaculella. WN. sp. 


Outer surface of the second joint of the palpi dark brown, except at 
the apex of the tuft, where it is whitish; third joint yellowish. Head 
pale ochreous; head and thorax pale ochreous, densely dusted with 
fuscous. Primaries ochreous, suffused and dusted with brown; a small 
dark brown spot on the fold before the middle; one a little larger at the 
middle of the disc, and one at its end, and some scattered dark brown 
scales along the base of the dorsal ciliae, near the apex. Al. ev. scarcely 
¥% inch. 


NEDA, ge. nov. 


This genus is between Anarsia and Cleodora. It is an Anarsia in all 
but the hind wings, which are those of Cleodora, both in form and 
neuration. 


Head smooth, convex; ocelli, none; antennae minutely denticulate ; 
tongue moderate, scaled; labial palpi moderate, ‘second joint with a 
projecting tuft at the apex; third joint smooth, ascending in the 2 (all 
my specimens are 2.) Primaries lanceolate, ciliae moderate ; the costal 
vein attains the margin before the middle ; the cell is narrow and pointed ; 
the first branch of the subcostal is given off before the middle, and there 
are two other branches towards the end of the cell ;_ the apical branch is 


DAA THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








furcate on the costa before the tip, and has almost a common origin with 
the apical branch of the median at the end of the cell; the median has 
three branches behind the middle, and the submedian is furcate at the 
base. ‘The secondaries are pointed, scarcely as wide as the primaries, 
with the dorsal margin deeply excavated beneath the tip; the costal 
margin is excavated from the basal third to the tip ; the costal vein attains 
the margin about the middle ;_ the subcostal is straight to the end of the 
cell, and thence bends a little upwards to the apex ; the cell is very wide; 
the discal vein oblique, with two branches to the dorsal margin, the upper 
branch arising close to the subcostal, and the second continued faintly 
through the cell to the base ; the median is trifurcate behind the middle, 


the first branch remote from the others ; the submedian distinct ; internal 
obsolete. 





LV. plutella. 


Third joint of palpi and upper surface of the second one creamy 
white, the second otherwise dark gray brown; head, thorax and the 
dorsal margin of the primaries to a point beyond the beginning of the 
cilae, creamy white, the primaries otherwise dark gray brown, except that 
the extreme costa 1s creamy white and the costal margin is obscurely 
streaked with the same hue. Ciliae of primaries creamy white, except 
atthe apex. <A/. ex. 4 inch. Season, September. The ornamentation 
reminds one of a Plutella. 


CLEODORA. 


(No species of this genus has heretofore been described from the U. 
S. or Canada.) 


C. pallidastrigella. NN. Sp. 


Palpi pale yellowish ; a spot on top of the third joint, and the brush 
on the second joint reddish ochreous. Thorax and primaries pale 
orange ; paler, nearly white, along the dorsal margin, and on the extreme 
costa beyond the middle; a narrow, indistinct, whitish line along the 
fold, ending at a small brown spot; there is an oblique, narrow, whitish 
streak along the base of the costal ciliae, continuous with the white of 
the extreme costa, and there is a short one along the base of the dorsal 
ciliae ; a minute brownish spot surrounded by a pale ring at the end of 
the disc, and an oblique brownish streak in the ciliae at the apex. The 
brown spots are allindistinct. Ad ex. 3 inch. 





THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. QA5 





The neuration of the primaries differs from that of C. cytésella, as 
figured by Mr. Stainton (/vs. Brit, v. 3), by having a branch from the 
apical vein to the costal margin, just before the vein becomes furcate,and 
that of the secondaries differs from it by having a single branch from the 
discal vein, and the subcostal furcate beyond the cell, or rather the 
‘superior branch of the discal is united with the subcostal at the cell. 
Nevertheless, I have no doubt that this species and the following are 
properly placed in this genus. 

C. pallidella. NN. Sp. 


To the naked eye this species appears very pale gray, almost white ; 
under the lens it appears pale ochreous gray, with minute and indistinct 
pale fuscous specks ; there is a fuscous streak along the upper surface of 
the second joint of the palpi, and the antennae are annulate with fuscous. 
Al. ex. ¥8 inch. Season, August. 


Mr. Stainton, in a foot note on page 111 of his edition of the 
‘Clemens papers, doubts whether Avworthosia Clem. ought to be separated 
from Cleodora. But the two genera differ decidedly in neuration, and the 
palpi of Anorthosia, as figured by Dr. Clemens, are very different from. 
those of Cleodora, as figured by Mr. Stainton (/us. Brit., v. 3). On the 
other hand, the palpi of Avorthosia resemble more closely those of my 
genus, Sagavitis. In both the tuft rises above the palpal joint, instead of 
spreading around it, as in C/eodora, and in those genera the tuft is com-_ 
posed of long scales, whilst in C/eodora it is clothed with stiff, bristle-lke, 
scales. In Axnorthosia the tuft is figured largest at the base of the joint, 
whilst in Sagaritis itis largest towards the apex. The terminal joint in 
Dr. Clemens’ figure is represented shorter relatively to the third than it is 
in either Sagaritis or Cleodora. In both these genera the cell is closed in 
both wings, while in Axorthosia it is open. There are also other differ- 
ences both in the form and neuration of the wings. Sagarif?s is quite 
distinct from Cleodora in the more elongate and slender body and legs, 
and more graceful appearance, as well as in the form and neuration of 
the wings. . 


NOTHRIS. 


N. griseella. WN. sp. 


Tuft large, but not projecting beyond the end of the joint, its anterior 
and inferior margins forming almost a right angle with each other; the 


246 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


terminal joint of the palpi is nearly as long as the second, recurved ; 
tongue rather scantily and roughly scaled at the base, the scales laterally 
projecting. Having but a single specimen, I have not examined the 
neuration, but the palpi are nearly those of JV. vecharcella, as figured in 
Ins. Brit., v. 3, than to any other genus known to me. 


Pale gray ; basal half of the second joint of the palpi dark brown on 
the outer surface ; tip of third joint dark brown; basal joint and annu- 
lations of the stalk of the antennae brown. There is a rather short dark 
brown line on each side of the thorax above the wings. Primaries with 
the extreme costa at the base, and the inner angle, dark brown, and the 
base towards the dorsal margin suffused with faint reddish yellow; the 
disc from the base nearly to the middle is suffused with brown, and there 
are faint brownish streaks between the veins in the apical part of the 
wing. AZ. ex. 34 inch. 


HOLOCERA. 


fH, Clemensella. NN. sp. 


1, chalcofronitella Clem. is so variable a species that it is possible this. 
may be a variety of it; but it is not one of the described varieties. 


Whitish, dusted lightly with dark purplish brown, the dusting dense on 
the second joint of the palpi. There is a purplish brown patch at the 
base of the costa, a small one about the middle of the costa, a small one 
opposite to it on the fold, a small one on the disc opposite the space 
between the other two, one at the end of the disc, and a row of small 
dots around the apex at the base of the ciliae. A/. ex. % inch. Season 
August. 


POLYHYMNO, £é@/. 110U. 


The two insects for which I erect this genus are possibly not con- 
generic. VP. /uteostrigellais a slender, elongate insect, whilst P. sexstrigella 
is rather robust ; there is but a single specimen of the latter species, and 
the head of that is wanting, though it is otherwise perfect. The form and 
neuration of the secondaries is very nearly the same in both, and so is the 
form of the primaries, except that those of sexstrigel/a are a little wider. 
The generic diagnosis is that of ¢ufeostrigella. The points in which 
sexstrigella differ from it are noticed under that species. The form of 
luteostrigella and the markings of the wings in both species are suggestive 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. OAT 








of affinities with Gracilaria, especially the short streaks at the apex of 
the primaries, reminding one of the “hook” in some species of that 
genus. The palpi are rather suggestive of relation to Cosmopteryx or 
Stathmopoda, but the form and neuration of the wings place it beyond 
doubt in the Gelechide, though the caudate primaries are peculiar. 


No maxillary palpi; labial palpi recurved, very long and slender, with 
the third joint longer than the second, and pointed ;_ tongue long, scaled 
at the base ; forehead convex ; face broad; scales of the head and face 
appressed ; basal joint of the antennae small, scarcely distinguishable. 
from the stalk, which is long and slender. 


Primaries lanceolate, narrow, caudate, the costal and dorsal margins. 
both being excised before the tip, behind the cell, the dorsal margin 
deeply so, and the extreme tip isa little hooked backwards. The costal 
vein is short, cell narrow; the subcostal gives off two branches, both 
behind the middle, the first remote from the second, which is at the end 
of the cell; and the apical branch is furcate behind the cell, both 
branches going to the costal margin. The discal vein gives off a single 
branch, which goes to the dorsal margin, and the median is four-branched, 
all four at or near to the end of the cell; the submedian is furcate at the 
base. 

The secondaries are deeply emarginate beneath the apex, which is a 
little hooked backwards ; the subcostal gives off a long branch from before 
the middle. and is furcate, with one branch to the costal and the other to: 
the dorsal margin before the tip ; the cell is unclosed, and the independ- 
ent discal branch arises af the median, which is three-branched, the first 
one being before the middle and remote from the others. They are about 
as wide as the primaries. 


The neuration of the secondaries allies this genus to Zrypanisma Clem.,. 
Taygete, Evippe, &c., Cham. 


P. luteostrigella. N. sp. 


Silvery white ; ciliae pale stramineous; upper surface of the thorax, 
with four narrow, equidistant, longitudinal, golden yellow lines. Primaries 
with three similar golden yellow lines extending through the entire length 
of the wings; one of these is placed just within the dorsal margin, and 
is continuous with one of the central thoracic lines, but the line is very 
indistinct, becoming more distinct towards the apex ; another of the lines 
on the wing is continuous with one of the lateral thoracic lines, is very 


2A8 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 





-distinct, becomes furcate on the disc, one branch going to the extreme 
apex and the other towards the dorsal margin at the beginning of the 
-ciliae, where it becomes confluent with the first mentioned line, but 
immediately separates from it again, the two lines continuing on_ parallel 
to each other around the base of the dorsal ciliae to the apex. ‘The third 
line begins on the costa at the base, and runs just within the costal margin 
nearly to the apex, where it becomes confluent with the second or apical 
branch of the second or median streak. In the apical part of the wing 
are three golden costal streaks, which become confluent with the second 
and third longitudinal lines, and point obliquely backwards, the first being 
rather remote from the other two; behind these three streaks is a fourth 
one, perpendicular to the margin; behind this is a fifth, pointing obliquely 
forwards, and behind this again two short curved ones, pointing forwards, 
one at the apex and the other close to and before it. There are two 
distinct, though small black spots in the dorsal cillae. AZ. ex. 34 inch. 
Season, August. 


Polyhymno ? sexstrigella, N. sp. 


As already stated, the head is missing in the single specimen which I 
possess of this species, and the primaries are wider, decidedly so in pro- 
portion to their length, being a little wider than the secondaries, and _ the 
costal margin before the tip is not so decidedly scalloped ;_ the tip is not 
hooked backwards; the apical branch of the subcostal is not furcate ; 
there are three branches before it, instead of two, as in (wfeostrigella, but 
the last one has almost a common origin with the apical, and the median 
is only three-branched, instead of four. 


The secondaries are the same, except that in this species the long 
branch of the subcostal (the first branch) is absent. 


The insect is more robust than /w/eostrigella. 


Iridescent fuscous, in some lights silvery. About the middle of the 
primaries is an oblique, wide, silvery white costal streak, of irregular out- 
line, reaching the fold, pointing obliquely backwards, divided in part by a 
narrow yellowish line, which passes back along the middle of the wing to 
the second costal streak, the wing above and below it being dark fuscous, 
somewhat iridescent ; the second costal streak is white and placed behind 
the middle ;. opposite to it is a white spot, just within the dorsal margin ; 
the second streak is dark margined behind, and the dark margin is pro- 
duced backwards as a line along the centre of the apical part of the wing, 
but does not quite reach the apex, and nearly opposite its end are two 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. QA 





small, straight, silvery white costal streaks, both dark margined behind 
and close to each other; behind these two streaks are two others, also: 
close together, the last one at the apex and both dark margined behind. 
The apical part of the wing (behind the second costal streak) is golden 
yellow, sprinkled towards the dorsal margin with brown.  Ciliae_ silvery 
fuscous, with a wide, dark brown hinder marginal line. -A/. ex. 3@ inch. 
Season, July. 


In the form and neuration of the wings, and in the disposition of the 
costal streaks it approaches lutcostrigella ; whether it does in the palpi and. 
antennae remains to be seen. 


Since the above remarks were written, I have received from Mr. 
Belfrage more perfect specimens, and find the palpi and antennae as in 
luteostrigella. 1t may be necessary to amend the specific description a 
little hereafter. 


(To be Continued.) 


ON” A NEW SPECIES OF CERAMICA: 
BY H. K. MORRISON, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


Ceramica rubefacta (nov. sp.) 
Expanse, 41 m. m.; length of body, 20 m. m. 


Eyes hairy ; collar and thorax reddish brown; the thorax of my only 
specimen was injured in capture, so that the presence, or if present, the 
size of the tufts could not be ascertained. But apparently it was tufted, 
as there are traces of a meta-thoracic elevation. Abdomen yellowish, 
with a strong basal tuft; the labial and anal tufts tinged with carneous ; 
beneath red ; anterior wings deep uniform red ; lines obsolete; nervules 
distinctly black ; a white dot on the costa at the base ; the interior line is 
only represented by a white dot on the costa and on the subcostal, median 
and submedian nervures. ‘The orbicular is blackish, small, oblique and 
with a grayish centre, situated close to the reniform, and at more than the 
usual distance from the base; reniform vague and blackish, with a gray 


250 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





centre ; the exterior line consists of faint white dots on the nervules, and 
its course is marked by the slightest possible change of color between the 
median and subterminal spaces ; the ante-apical white dots are very 
distinct ; the subterminal line wanting, except at the costa, where several 
linear white shades show its place. Posterior wings yellowish white, with 
a broad fuscous terminal border; beneath the anterior wings are gray, 
with traces of an exterior line; the apical, costal aud terminal regions 
deeply suffused with carneous. Posterior wings whitish, with the fringe 
yellow; the costal and apical portions of the wings carneous. Zab. 
Malden, Mass.; from my collection. Found under bark, June 24, 1873. 


In a recent paper, Mr. Grote refers Ceramica to Taeniocampa, being 
then only acquainted with Ceramica picta Harr. The discovery of this 
species, which agrees perfectly in structural characters with ficfa, confirms 
my previous opinion that the genus should be recognized. ‘The characters 
which separate it from Zueniocampa are not very striking, but they can be 
readily appreciated, and the habits and markings of the two species are 
very different from any of the Zaeniocampas.  Rubefacta approaches to 
the description of vézdemialis Guen., but differs in the presence of the 
orbicular and in other particulars. 


In a recent number of the Enromotocist Mr. Grote described a 
species under the title of Perigrapha normani. In working on allied 
genera, we have identified this form, but we are unable to see the propriety 
of the generic reference. 

The following are the characters of Lederer’s genus Perigrapha : 

Eyes hairy; tibiae unarmed; antennae pectinated in both sexes ; 
collar cut out and produced in front into a sharp corner: thorax with an 
angular projection on each side, and bearing behind the collar a lofty, 
sharp-edged, longitudinal crest ; abdomen with a closely cut tuft on the 
first segment. 

In the species under consideration the antennae in both sexes are 
simple; the collar is not produced into a sharp corner; the thorax is 
rounded, without angular projections on the sides. Behind the collar there 
is simply a small, flat, furrowed tuft, instead of a lofty crest ; the abdomen 
is untufted. 

Such being the generic characters of zormani, we remove it from 
Perigrapha and refer it to a separate section of Zacniocampa, as it agrees 
with the typical species of that genus, except in the possession of a slight 
prothoracic tuft. ‘The known species will now stand as follows 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 251 


——— eee 


Taeniocampa Guen. 


Section 1.—Thorax untufted. 

Alia Guen. 

Oviduca Guen. 

Pacificata Harvey. 

Section 2.—Thorax with a weak, flat, furrowed tuft behind the collar. 
Normanzt Grote. 


ON THE SPECIES REFERRED TO ORTHODES BY GUENEE: 
BY H. K. MORRISON, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 


In Mr. Grote’s recent ‘“ List of the Noctuidz ” four of the five species 
described by Guenée are marked unidentified. With a very large material 
(nearly 100 specimens of the different species, for many of which we are 
indebted to Mr. F. C. Bowditch, who has found them common in the 
vicinity of Boston) before us, we have attempted to straighten out the 
species and to characterize the two genera to which we refer them. 

Mr. Guenée, in instituting this genus, comprised under it many 
discordant forms, and in his preliminary remarks he forsees the necessity 
of a future generic separation of the species. 

We restrict Orthodes to the group of which zwfrma is the type, and 
also the most widely known member. 


Orrnopes, Guenz, Nock tol. 1,’ p: 371 (1852e) 


Imagines of medium size. The eyes hairy ; antennz simple in both 
sexes ; the palpi stout, erect, thickly but evenly clothed ; the terminal joint 
short, but distinctly separated from the other two ; the collar rounded, 
distinctly lobed, and well separated from the thorax; in zufirma there 
is an open space between the two lobes. The thorax untufted, its 
villosity smooth and pressed down; the abdomen untufted, in the female 
slightly exceeding the posterior wings ; in the male long hairy tufts which 
have their origin at the base of the genitalia, enclose and extend far 
beyond the parts ; the anterior wings rapidly increasing in width from the 
base outward, triangular, the apex and internal angle rounded. The 
spots and lines are very clear and evident. Beneath, the males have on 
the median space an irregular, slightly raised patch of closely compressed 
hair. 


bo 
Xt 
bo 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 4 





SPECIES. 


Infirma, Guen., Noct., 1, p. 375 (1852). 


In this species the squamation is smooth ;_ the lobes of the collar are 
separated below ; the thorax is concolorous ; the anterior wings are dull 
purple gray ; the lines and spots are all present, with the exeeption of the 
claviform spot, and accompanied by distinct, even, yellow lines ; the half- 
line parallel with the interior line ; the median lines are trapezoidal ; the 
median shade is blackish, diffused,and curved, passing between the spots ; 
the reniform and orbicular are large, contiguous, and surrounded by pale 
annuli ; a double row of spots on the nervules follow the exterior line : 
the subterminal line is distinct, even and slightly curved ; the subterminal 
space dark, particularly near the costa; a pale scolloped line at the base 
of the wings. Beneath yellowish, with a common line; on the anterior 
wings the characteristic patch of hair is more elongated and narrower 
than in the allied species ; on the posterior wings discal dots. 


Expanse, 32-35 m.m. /fab,, the Eastern and Middle States. I have- 


also received specimens from St. Louis (Prof. C. V. Riley.) 


This species is very constant, except that the ordinary spots differ in 
their closeness to each other. It is extremely common in the Middle: 
States in July; to the northward it becomes less abundant. 


Cyca Xcuen., Noct., 15°p. 375 (1852). 
Nimia Guen., id., p. 76; candens Guen, id. 


g ....The collar rounded, well separated from the thorax; there is. 
no open space between its two lobes. It varies greatly in color from 
light ochreous through all the shades of reddish and purple brown. ‘The 
thorax concolorous with the anterior wings; the latter are rounded, pro- 
portionately shorter than in zzfrma _; they vary from gray, with scarcely any 
red admixture, to deep reddish brown. The median lines are always present, 
simple, black and irregular,accompanied by paler shade lines; their position 
in reference to each other varies in different specimens in some they are tra- 
pezoidal,in others they are almost sub-parallel, and they vary to infinity 
between these two limits. The median shade is black, diffused and arcuate, 
always touching the base of the reniform,and approaching more or less near 
to the exterior line. ‘The ordinary spots are always distinct, concolorous, 
with white annul; they vary in their distance from each other. The 
orbicular is usually oblique, and but little smaller than the reniform ; in 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. ae 


one specimen, however, it is round and very small. The subterminal line 
is generally whitish, distinct, and preceded by a dark shade line; this 
latter is sometimes absent. The posterior wings are uniform, fuscous, 
slightly lighter at the base, with a faint discal dot ;_ the fringe tinged with 
ochreous or carneous, or witha shade between them. Beneath the anterior 
wings are gray, the apex sometimes carneous. The characteristic patch 
of hair covers the upper part of the basal and median spaces. The 
posterior wings are yellowish, with a discal dot and thick median line ; 
the latter is rarely obsolete. The fringes of both wings vary; they are 
usually carneous, but sometimes ochreous or even pale gray. The anal 
tufts are usually yellowish. 

Expanse, 30 to 33m. m. 

2. Inthe female the collar is purple, tipped with ochreous ; the 
thorax and anterior wings are never gray, or with any trace of ochreous, 
neither are they reddish brown, as in the males ; they are usually of a dark 
intense purple brown. The median lines vary as in the males, but they 
are always less distinct ; the ordinary spots are usuaily present, as in the 
males, but in one specimen they are barely traceable. The subterminal 
light line is less distinct, and frequently entirely obsolete. The posterior 
wings are as in the males ; beneath also varying as in the other sex. 


Expanse, 29 to32m.m. Had. Maine, Mass., N. Y., Ohio ; St. Louis, 
Mo. (Prof. C. V. Riley). Appearing in the latter part of June and first 
of July. 

We have no hesitation in referring 7zza as a synonym of this species, 
as specimens from New York exactly correspond with Guenée’s 
description. Candens, however, may be distinct ; but we are disposed to 
consider it merely a variety, from the description; at least until it is 
discovered and proved to be a good species. 


PSEUDORTHODES (z0v. gen. ) 


Closely allied to Orthodes, but we think sufficiently distinct from it. 
The anterior wings are narrower than in Orthodes, and lack the distinctive 
sexual patch of closely compressed hair of the males. The markings are 
confused, and the ordinary spots are obsolete. The males have not the 
leng anal tufts found in Orthodes. The third palpal joint is longer and 
better defined. 


Vecors Guen., Noct. 1, p. 376 (1852.) 
Var. griseocincta Harvey, Bull. Buff, Soc. Nat. Sci, 1874. 


254 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





In this species the thorax is concolorous with the anterior wings ;_ the 
abdomen is smooth and flattened ; the wings are usually reddish brown or 
gray, lustrous ; the median lines are blackish and confused, often accom- 
panied by pale, faint shade lines ;_ the interior line is slightly oblique and 
sometimes geminate; the median shade is broad, black, arcuate, and 
diffused, touching the reniform, which is reduced to a red or white spot. 
The orbicular and claviform are absent. ‘The exterior line is always 
simple and denticulate ; the subterminal line is faint, light, preceded very 
frequently by a dark shade, in which are sometimes formed, opposite to 
the cell, black cuneiform dots. The fringe is concolorous. Posterior 
wings dark grayish fuscous, sometimes almost black. The discal dot is 
always present. Beneath the anterior wings are dark gray, with the 
terminal space usually light; the posterior wings lighter, with a distinct 
discal dot. A common median line extends over both wings. 


Expanse 25 to 32 m.m. fad. Atlantic States. 
Nearly forty specimens were examined from different localities. 


O. cynica can be justly called a variable species, but this one is infinite 
in its variations of size as well as color. We can not consider griseocincta 
other than a specimen in which the reddish tint is entirely absent, and 
the gray shades accompinying the lines are unusually prominent. The 
forms of this species slide so gradually into each other that it is impossible 
to draw distinct lines of demarcation. ‘There are, however, two principal 
varieties ; in one the reniform is clear, white and conspicuous, and the 
ground color is reddish ; in the other the reniform is reddish, or indicated 
only by a few pale scales, and the ground color is gray with but slight 
reddish admixture. Specimens of this latter variety (which is the only 
one described by Guenée) sometimes occur in which the ground color ts: 
red, but it is more frequently the other way. 


In one specimen expanding only 25 m. m., the reniform is white ; the 
ordinary lines are diffused and black, coloring the whole wing, and 
entirely cbscuring the usual reddish shade. In another, which approaches. 
griseocincta, the expanse is 31 m.m.; the reniform is simply a few collected 
whitish scales. The lines are nearly obsolete, and the interior line is 
preceded by a faint pale shade band. ‘The ground color is a dulllustrous 
slightly brownish gray. 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 955 





Obituary. 


The sad intelligence of the death of that distinguished Entomologist, 
Francis Walker, of London, England, conveyed in a brief notice in our 
last, will, we know, have brought grief to the hearts of all those who have 
been favored with the correspondence of that genial-hearted man. His 
continued and disinterested kindness towards all those with whom he had 
to do has endeared him to many. Although we never had the pleasure 
of a personal acquaintance with the deceased, yet to ourselves personally, 
as well as to our Society, he has always been among the truest and 
kindest friends we have had, ever ready to do us any service in his power. 
His death leaves a void in onr circle which it will be hard to fill. The 
following brief sketch of his career and his unceasing labors, written by 
one who knew him well, will be read with interest : 


It has become my painful duty to record that Francis Walker, the most 
voluminous and most industrious writer on Entomology this country has 
ever produced, expired at his residence, Elm Hall, Wanstead, on the 5th 
of October, 1874, sincerely lamented by all who enjoyed the pleasure and 
advantage of his friendship. He was the seventh son, and the tenth and 
youngest child, of Mr. John Walker, a gentleman of independent fortune, 
residing at Arno’s Grove, Southgate, where the subject cf this memoir 
was born on the 31st of July, 1809. Mr. Walker—the father—had a 
decided taste for science, especially Natural History ; he was a fellow of 
the Royal and Horticultural Societies, and vice-president of the Linnean, 
so that his son’s almost boyish propensity for studies, in which he after- 
wards became so eminent, seems to have been inherited rather than 
acquired. 

Mr. Walker's decided talent for observing noteworthy facts in Ento- 
mology was first exhibited at home, when, as a mere child, his attention 
was attracted by the butterflies, which, in the fruit season, came to feed on 
the ripe plums and apricots in his father’s gardens ; Vanessa C-Album is 
especially mentioned ; and Limenitis Sibydla, another species no longer 
found in the vicinity of London, was then common at Southgate. 

In 1816 Mr. Walker’s parents were staying with their family at Geneva, 
then the centre of a literary coferie, in which they met, among other 
celebrities. Lord Byron, Madame de Stael, and the naturalists De Saussure 
and Vernet. They spent more than a year at Geneva and Vevey, and in 
1818 proceeded to Lucerne, from which place Francis, then a boy nine 


256 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 





years of age, made the ascent of Mont Pilatus, in company with his elder. 
brother Henry; their object, in addition to the ever delightful one of 
mountain-climbing, being the collecting of butterflies. | The family after- 
wards visited Neuwied, and returned to Arno’s Grove in 1820. 


In 1830 the two brothers, Henry and Francis, again visited the 
Continent, and now it was purely an Entomological tour, the late Mr. 
Curtis, the well-known author of ‘ British Entomology,’ being their com- 
panion. ‘This party collected most assiduously in the island of Jersey, and 
afterwards at Fontainebleau, Montpellier, Lyons, Nantes, Vaucluse, &c., 
the French Satyridz, of which they formed very fine collections, being 
their principal object. j 


Mr. Walker’s career as an author commenced in 1832. Hecontnbuted 
to the first number of the ‘Entomological Magazine,’ the introductory 
chapter of his ‘ Monographia Chalciditum, a work on the minute parasitic 
Hymenoptera—a tribe of insects which he ever afterwards studied with 
the most assiduous attention, and one on which he immediately became 





the leading authority. He was then only twenty-three years of age ; but 
his writings exhibited a depth of research and maturity of judgment which 
have rarely been excelled, and which abundantly evince the time and 
talent he had already devoted to these insects. It is worthy of notice 
that he now descended from the largest and most showy to the smallest 
and least conspicuous of insects, doubtless feeling that whereas among 
the magnificent butterflies there was little opportunity for the discovery of 
novelties, among the Chalcidites everything was new—everything required 
that minute, patient, and laborious investigation in which he seemed so 
especially to delight. Only two authors, Dalrnan and Spinola, had pre- 
ceded him in devoting their attention to the structure of these atoms of 
creation ; and even these two had described comparatively a very small 
number of species. 


In 1834 Mr. Walker, somewhat reluctantly, consented to undertake 
the editorial management of the ‘ Entomological Magazine,’ and resigned 
this office the following year, yet continued a constant contributor to its 
pages. The same year he visited Lapland, in company with two of our 
most distinguished botanists ; and in this extreme north of Europe, and 
especially at Alten and Hammerfest, he assiduously collected insects, more 
particularly the northérn Diptera, the Satyridee among Lepidoptera, and 
the Chalcididze amongst Hymenoptera. During this journey we have the 
first and only notice of his prowess as a sportsman: he shot wild grouse 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 257 





and ptarmigan ; and on one solitary occasion was accessory to the death 
of a reindeer, but as other rifles besides his own were simultaneously 
discharged, it is difficult to say whose was the effective bullet. I am glad 
to be able to record that Mr. Walker declined to give the poor creature 
the coup de grace, and, for this especial purpose, resigned to another his 
coutcau de chasse. 


In May, 1840, he married Mary Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Mr. 
Ford, of Ellell Hall, near Lancaster, and spent the summer on the Con- 
tinent, again collecting in Switzerland with his customary assiduity. 


In 1848 he explored the Isle of Thanet, the following year the Isle of 
Wight, and succeeding years, 1850 and 1851, he visited Geneva and 
Interlachen ; and during the former year commenced his great work on 
Diptera. This formed part of a projected series of works on British 
insects, to be called ‘Insecta Britannica,’ a project in which the late Mr. 
Spence took a deep interest. 


During the year 1851 was published the first volume of the ‘ Diptera.’ 
This work is printed in 8vo., and contained 314 pages ; the second volume 
appeared in 1853, and contained 298 pages; and the third volume in 
1856, and contained 352 pages. Thus the entire work comprised nearly 
1000 pages of closely-printed descriptions. 


Another tour on the Continent occupied a considerable portion of 
1857, Mr. Walker visiting Calais, Rouen, Paris, Strasbourg, Baden-Baden, 
Heidelberg, Wiesbaden, Frankfort, Mayence, Cologne, Brussels, Aix-la- 
‘Chapelle, and Antwerp. During the journey he collected in the Black 
Forest ; and this is the only scene of his scientific labours, during the 
tour, of which I have any intelligence. 


The summer of 1860 was devoted to a thorough exploration of the 
Channel Islands. Dr. Bowerbank was his companion during a portion 
of the time, and, as a consequence, the sponges of these islands were a 
main object of research—the Gouliot caves in Sark, so celebrated for 
their marine productions—were a great attraction to both naturalists. 


In 1861 Mr. Walker’s excursions were chiefly confined to North 
Devon; he visited Linton. Clovelly, Ilfracombe, Bideford, and Barn- 
staple : and now his attention seems to have been again chiefly occupied 
with Lepidoptera, at the scarcity of which he was greatly disappointed, 
having expected, from the extensive woods, to have found moths particu- 
larly abundant. ; 


958 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 


In 1863 he toured the English lakes; and, in the spring of 1865, 
North Wales and Ireland; and in the autumn he again visited Paris, 
Geneva, Lucerne, Interlachen, and Altdorf, ascending the Righi, Mont 
Pilatus and the Miirren, and proceeding to Kandersteg, the Oeschinen 
See, and the Gemmi Pass. 


In 1867 we find him again in France and Switzerland, ascending the 
Col de Voza, and examining the Jardin of the Mer de Glace ; thence over 
the Téte Noir to Martigny, Sion, and the Great St. Bernard ; returning by 
St. Maurice and the Villeneuve to Geneva. 


In 1869 he made the tour of the Isle of Man, and returned by Holy- 
head ; in 1870 he paid another visit to Llanberis, as well as to all the more 
beautiful scenery in North Wales, crossing over to Ireland, and touring 
that island from south to north ; and in 1871 he examined Entomologically 
the Scilly Islands, and the districts of the Lizard and the Land’s End. 


In 1872 he turned his attention to Italy, visiting Rome, Piza, Lueca,. 
Florence, Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Milan, and Venice, as well as the Lakes. 
of Como and Maggiore. 


And, finally, in the present year, he had again proceeded as far as 
Aberystwith, on his way to Ireland, when his intention was frustrated by 
illness, which terminated fatally on the 5th of October. He died in the 
most perfect peace of body and of mind. For many years Mr. Walker 
was a member of the Linnean and Entomological Societies of London, 


but resigned his membership in both some time before the close of his. 
life. 


It might be excusable in a man of such incessant bodily activity—so: 
locomotive by inclination, so devoted to the study of Nature in all her 
aspects, so dilligent a collector of the objects of his favourite study—had 
he allowed his pen to rest while his hands were engaged in forming and 
arranging his collections. But this was not the case with Mr. Walker, as. 
his Catalogues of the National Collection abundantly testify. Of the 
Lepidoptera Heterocera, alone, Mr. Walker catalogued and described 
upwards of twenty-three thousand species ; in addition to which he pre- 
pared similar catalogues, although perhaps not to the same extent, of the 
Diptera, Orthoptera, Homoptera, Neuroptera, and part of the Hymen- 
optera : such an amount of labour, as is testified by these catalogues, has 
seldom, if ever, been accomplished by one individual. But this statement 
by no means represents the whole of his literary labours. He contributed 


THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 2.59: 





shorter or longer papers to the Transactions of learned societies, and to 
the periodicals of the day, especially to the ‘ Zoologist’ and ‘ Entomolo- 
gist ;’ by the indexes of the latter I find he sent thirteen communications 
to the first volume, three to the second, one to the fourth, thirteen to the 
fifth, and forty-three to the sixth; during the present year his writings 
appear in every number. I intended to catalogue these and his other 
labours, to give some idea of the number of pages, number of species and 
dates of each; but I can scarcely now venture to look forward to the 
accomplishment of this labour of love. 


A word remains to be spoken of the man apart from the scientific and 
accomplished naturalist. Throughout my long life I have never met with 
anyone who possessed more correct, more diversified, or more general 
information, or who imparted that information to others with greater 
readiness and kindness ; I have never met with any one more unassuming, 
more utterly unselfish, more uniformly kind and considerate to all with 
whom he came in contact. It is no ordinary happiness to have enjoyed 
the friendship of such a man for nearly half a century.—Zdward Newman 
in The Entomologist. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 





ON CIRRC2DIA PAMPINA Guen. 
DEAR SIR,— 

In the list of the North American Noctuide published in the Bulletin 
of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, we find the familiar name of 
Cirredia Guen. replaced by Atcthmia Hubn. We are unable to see the 
necessity of this change. Afethmia was founded by Hubner in the 
Verzeichniss (1816) on 

x erampelina Hb. 
ambusta W. V. 
subusta Hb. 


Gueneée, in his “ Zssai sur les Noctuélites,’ printed in the Annals of 
the French Entomological Society for 1839, p. 489, takes out x. crampelina, 
which is congeneric with our fampina as well as the European améusta, 
placing it in the genus Cirredia. In 1852, the same author in the “ Species 
Général,” vol. 6, p. 12, defines Athetmia (which he spells as in the index, 
not the text of the “ Verzeichniss”), referring subusta as the typical 


260 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 








species, and adding another, zwusfa, to the genus, both of these species 
being native in South America. 

This being the synonymy of the two genera,we would retain Cirredia 
for our well known form. H. K. Morrison, Cambridge, Mass. 


BOOK NOTICES: 


Manuscript Notes from my Journal, or Illustrations of Insects, Native 
and Foreign Diptera, by Townend Glover, Washington, D. C. 

We sincerely thank the author of this valuable work for his great 
kindness in placing us on the list of the favored few among whom the 
first small edition of forty-five copies of the above work has been dis- 
tributed. ‘This work is unique in several respects. It is a fac simile of 
the author’s own note book on this family of insects, written by the author 
himself on prepared paper, then transferred to stone and printed on a 
lithographic press. ‘The costliness of the paper required for this purpose 
and the fact that it can only be used on one side, adds much to the 
expense of issuing this work, which expense has been borne entirely by 
the author. Such generosity and disinterestedness in the interests of our 
favorite science is deserving of the highest commendation. 

The work is published in quarto form, and opens with three pages of 
introductory matter, followed by thirteen plates, containing no less than 
480 excellent illustrations of Dipterous insects in their various stages, or 
of parts of these insects, accompanied by suitable explanatory lists of 
names, &c. The labor on these plates alone, all of which is the work 
of this pains-taking and laborious Entomologist, is something enormous, 
and this, to our knowledge, is but a fraction of the work he has accom- 
plished in this department during the past few years. ‘The next 59 pages 
are occupied by an alphabetical list of the families and genera of Diptera, 
with synonyms, habitat, food, &c. Then a list of predaceous or parasitic 
Diptera ; vegetable and animal substances inhabited, injured or destroyed 
by Diptera, &c., &c, A valuable practical portion of the work is the 
enumeration and description of various remedies which have been 
suggested to guard against the injuries caused by these insects. Each 
division of the work throughout is arranged alphabetically and in the most 
convenient manner, so as to enable the student to refer readily to any, 
portion he may desire. 


Notices of other books received will appear in our next. 


INDEX TO VOLUME VI. 


A . | A Thirsty Spider, 119 
Acronyeta lepusculina, 154 ie eis dee 


perdita, 154 
Adisophanes miscelius, 16 
Aeaean. g., 73 

“* ostryaeella, n. sp., 74 
Agrotis, On Two Species of, 131 
alternata, 214 
attentus, n. sp., 131 
badinodis, n. sp., 13 


B 


yee, Rev. C. J, 8., Articles by, 159, 160, 181, 
20 

Behrens, James, Article by, 1 

Boarmia larvaria, On the Larva of, 32 

Book Notices, 260 


ee 


cS Cochranii, 214 Books Received, 77 

Ba collaris, 13 Brief Notice, 199 

Ws conflua, 71 British Association, Meeting of, 160 
= fennica, 19, 155. Bucculatrix pomifoliella, 231 

ee fuscigerus, 155 Bulletin Buff. Soc. Nat. Sci., 99 

ee 


gilvipennis, 71 
Hollemani, 156 
lyearum, 155 


Bunker, Robert, Article by, 25 
Butalis basilaris, 8 


se flavifrontella, 8 
perattentus, n. sp., 131 se fuscicomella, & 
Alypia Langtonii, 70 ¥ 


| matutella, $ 
Amadria Clemensella, n. Sp , 232 | Butterflies, European, Food Plants of, 21, 126 


American Association, Meeting of, 160, 161, 185 Butterflies of North America, 98, 120 » 
Amphipyra pyramidoides, 27 


Anarsia suffusella, n. sp., 248 c 
“ trimaculella, i. sp., 243 
Anatrichis minuta, 135 


| 


Andrews, W. V., Articles by, 16, 145 Caloptenus spretus, 185 _ 
Anesychia mirusella* n. sp., 233 Captures Interesting, 140 
es multipunctella, rn, sp., 233 | Catocalas, Notes on, 25 


_ Anisopteryx pometaria, 29 | Catocala aspasia, 199 


= vernata, 29 “<  Whitneyt,n. sp., 125 
Annual Address, President’s, 181 “<< magdalina, 199 

‘* Meeting Ent, Soc., 199 «*  relicta, 100 

a «© ~~ London Branch, 38 | ‘© —ultronia, Larva of, 147 

** Report, Riley’s 6th, 140 | Caterpillars, On Preserving by Inflation, 107 
Anthrax analis, 176 | Caulfield, F. B., Articles ‘119, 132 


‘*  bastardi, 176 


“e 


} | Ceramica, New "Species of, "249 
fulvina, 177 ot rubefacta, nr. sp., 249 
- fuscipennis, 176 | Cerastis alternata, 15 

** terminipennis, 176 Ceratocampa regalis, 147 
Antispila, 166, 197 Chambers, V.'T., Articles by, 8, 49, 72, 96, 128 


. 





Oe 
aimpelopsiella, n. sp., 197 149, 166, 197, 217, 229. 
4 ampelopsifoliella, i. sp., 168 Chilocorus bivuimerus, 85 
‘s cornifoliella, 166, 198 | Chionobas, 55 
Pe hydrangacella, n. sp., 170 | Chrysopeleia, n. g., 72 
o* isabella, 167, et ss pce oarice SDs. he 
ie a dihgechleye , 168, 198 Chrysops carbonarius, 178 
Aphis Excretion, use of, | Cirroedia pampina, 259 
Arctia arge, 98 | Cleodora, 244 
« porealis, 70 ‘  pallidastrigella, n. sp., 244 
** rubricosa, 158 } “ 


pallidella, n. sp., 245 
Clisiocampa syivatica, 158 
| Coccinella bipunctata, 83 


“é 


virgo, 155 
virguncula, 7[ 


Argyresthia andereggiella, 10 ss munda, 84 
apici-maculella, n. sp., 11 eS novemnotata, $3 
ae oreasella, 10 | ‘ trifasciata, 84 
oe undulatella, i. sp , 10 Coccinellidae, On the, 81 


Argynnis cybele, aphrodite and diana, Notes on {| Coleophora, 128 
Larva of, 1 21 | ss aeneusella, n. sp , 128 
ry Aspidisca, 149, | sé argenti-albella, 1. Sp., 129 
diospy ie ‘olla, nN. Sp. 217 | auropurpuriella, i. sp., 130 
‘s ella, 152,°219 ciliae-ochrella, ni. sp., 129 


ee epeacele. nN. sp., 151, 219 Fagicosticella, n. sp., 129 


sf lucifluella, 152, 153, 219 “6 gigantella, n. sp., 128 
gh salidiella, n.sp., 151 | a linea-pulvella, n. sp., 130 
4 splendoriferella, 149, 151, 153, 217 | ss rufo-luteella, n. sp., 129 


y 


962 INDEX TO VOLUME VI. 





Coleophora wiicolorella, i. sp., 129 
ee Zeller ees nN sp., 128 
Coleopter a, List of, 
of Anticosti, 137 
* Colias philodice, 38, 92 
Collecting Lepidoptera, Notes on, 114 
Colorado Potato Beetle, 160, 183 
Commou In-ects, On some of our, 2, 27, 46, 67, 
$1. 101; 138, 141, 227 
Conops sagittaria, 177 
Correspondence, 18, 37, 60, 119. 178, 199, 259 
Couper, Wm., Ar ticles by, 33, 37, 55, 91, 137 
Correction, 80 
Cressonia juglandis, 171, 178 
Crinus scrophulariae, 157 
c rotch, G. R., Letter from, 20 
: Death of, 160 
Cynthia cardui, 38 


-D 


Death of Francis Walker, 220, 255 
Depressaria dubitella, Larva of, 221 
Desmocerus pa liavus. 140 
Dianthoecia niveiguttata, 214 
ue pensilis, 215 
Diptera, Canadian, Stray Notes on, 176 
“* The Families of, 11 
“< Prof. Glover’s New Work on, 260 
Dodge, G. M , Articles by, 44, 114, 125 
Dor yphor a decemlineata, 183 
Dryocampa rubicunda, 220 
Dryope, n. g., 49 | 
“ — Murtfeldtella, n. sp., 50 
Dysauxes mediastina, 119 





Dysodea, 171 
E 


Eacles imperiatis, 17, 87, 146 
Editorial, 1 

a Summary, 78, 98, 120, 140 
Edwards, W. H., Articles by, 20, 121, 157 
Elachista praematurela, 76. 
Eljopia ribearia, 138 
Entomological Collecting Tour, 59 


“ Contributions, Lintner’s, 120 
be Notes, 145 | 
cs Readings, 16 | 


Erebia nepuele, 140 
Eristalis infiexus, 177 
‘““ nebulosus, 177 | 
‘* sincerus, 177 
Errata, 153 
Eudamus tityrus, 140 
Eudryas grata, 180 | 
Eurois occulta, 13, 71 
Evolenes impressus, 136 
Exapate congelatella, 145 
Explanatory, 178 


F | 
Formica flava, Observations on, 63 
G | 


Gastropacha Americana, 158 
Geddes, Gamble, Article by, 67 | 
Gelechia aequaepulvella, 230, 331 
¢¢ argenti-albella, n, sp., 241 
bidiscomaculella, 1. sp., 241 
cercerisella, 230, 231 





Gelechia cilialineella, 1 sp., 242 
costa-rufoella, n. sp., 240 
crescentifasciella, i. Sp., a 
depresso-strigella, i. sp., 23k 
disco-ocele.la, 231 
eleqgantella, i. sp., 239 
lavernella, i sp., 242 
maculimarginella, n. sp., 241 
minimaculella, n. sp., 235 
minimella, 2. sp., 243 
ochveo-suffusella, ni. sp. rn 
pallidagrissella, i. sp , 23 
parvipulvella, i. sp., 249 
plutella, n. sp., 238 - 
pullusella, n. sp., 237 
quadrimaculella, n. sp., 237 
roseo-suffusella, 231 
rubenselia, Larva of, 222 
ae rufusella, i. sp , 240 
ee sella, n. sp., 238 
ee subalbusella, n. sp., 242 
a subruberella, n. sp., 240 
i thorace-albella, n. sp., 235 
trimaculella, i. sp., 238 

«s Wacoella, n. sp., 237 
Gentry, Thomas G , Articles by, 5, 41, 68, 85,171 
Geometrid Moths, Packard’s Monograph of, 220 
Grapta comma, 157 

ee dryas, 94, 157 
BS progne, 37 
Grote, A. R., Articles by, 13, 69, 115, 131, 154, 170, 
78, 180, 199, 214 


H 


Hadena cariosa, 15 


os conmgermand, i, Sp., 106 
ss divesta, 215 
ss fractilinea, 15 


Hagen, Dr, H,, Artic e by, 163 
Hagno faginella, 231, 232 
Hamadryas Bassettella, 231 
Harpalyce, n. g.t 284 


a albella, n, sp., 235 
es canusella, iv. sp., 235 
“a tortricella, sa &p., 230 


Heliophila commoides, 72 
Hemiptera, Catalogue of, 99 
Hesperia bathy lus, 140 

a oiieus, 140 

Ss paunee,n, sp., 44 

i zabulon, 140 
Hipp: ydamia convergens, 84 
macu ata, 84 
parenthesis, 84 

% 13-punctata, 84 
Holcecera chaicofrontel.a, 246 

SG Clemensella, n. sp., 246 

i glandule la, 231 
Huydracecia semiaperta, n. sp., 105 


I 


Insects and Flowers, 206 
es Purchase of, 200 


K 
Kirby, W. F., Article by, 196 
i 


Lachnocrepis parallelus, 135 
Lachnosterna quercina, 67, 158 


“et 


INDEX TO VOLUME VI. 





Law of Priority, 201 
Leconte, Dr. John L., Articles by, 186, 201, 223 
Lepidoptera, Co ection of in Anticosti, 69 
Discrepancies in Recent Lists of, 196 
Lepidopterous Larvae, Supposed New Species of, 
41 


Lepidopterous Larvae, Variations in Coloration, 
85 
Leucania pseudargyria, Larva of, 132 
Limenitis arthemis, 38 
x disippus, 46 
oy ephestion, 38 
List of 1868, Notes on, 170 
Lithocolletis crataegella, 150 
Luperina reniformis, in. sp., 14 
Lyman, H. H., Articles by, 38, 158, 220 


M 


Macroglossa famosa, 199 
Mamestra cinnabarina, 156 

25 cuneata, 156 

xe nimbosa, 13 

$$ renigera, 132 
Matuta, n. g., 116 

“e eatherina, 116 
Megachile centuncu aris, 171 
Melitaea phaeton, 159 

- tharos, 149 
Melsheimer, Dr., Death of, 39 
Micro-Lepidoptera, 8,49, 72, 96, 128, 149, 166, 197, 


217 
Miscellaneous, 220 
“¢ Notes, 158 


Morris, Dr, Beverly R., Article by, 176 
Morrison, H. K , Articles by, 29, 105, 249, 251, 
259 


Montreal Branch, Organization of, 59 


ee Anpual Meeting of, 118 
cc Annual Repert of, 133 


Murtfeldt, Mary E., Article by, 241 
Mycetophilidae, Synopsis of European, 111 
Mysia 15-punctata, 84 


N 


Nature, 160 
Neda, n. g., 248 
‘“  plutella iv. sp., 244 
Nematus ventricosus, 101 
Nepticula microtherieella, 152 
Neurvuptera, List of, 45 
Nisoniades catullus, 140 
Noctua alternata, 15 
<< cupida, 16 
Noctuae, New Canadian, 115 
Noctuidae, Notes on, 13 
“ On two new Species of, 105 
se Grote’s List of, 120 
as of California, Preliminary List of, 154, 
214 
Nomenclature, on, 18 


Ee of Coleoptera, on some Changes | 


Recently ie ge 186 
4 Entomological, 201, 223 
Norman, George; Article by, 19 
Northern Butterflies, Dissertation on, 33, 55, 91 
Nothris griseella, n, sp., 240 


O 


Obituary, 39, 255 
Ochria sauzalitae, 216 


263 





Oenoe, n. g., 50 
* hybromella, n. sp., 51 
Oodii of Louisiana, on Species of, 135 
Oodes amaroides, 135 
‘“* americanus, 135 
“« cupraeus, 136 
** elegans, 135 
“*  fluvialis, 135 
“© 14-striatus, 136 
“© Lecontei, 136 
‘*  texanus, 136 
Orthodes, On Species Referred to by Guenee, 251 


ro eynica 252 
es nimia, 252 
as infirma, 252 


P 


Paleontology af Ontario, 159 
Papilio brevicauda, 20, 33 
“© marcellus, 140 
‘*  thoas, 39, 140 
‘*  troilus, 140 
se 6turnus, 2, 91, 140, 158 
‘Linnean Signification of the Generic Term, 
143, 163 
Peabody, Prof. S. H , Article by, 98 
Pearson, C TT ioe from, 119 
Pelidnota punctata, 141 
Perigrapha, 250 
Ce Norman, 
Per imede,  g.. 51 
erranselld, it SP.y 52 ~ 
Pettit, J., Article by, 45 
Phalaenide of California, 78 
Philampelus Syeer ae 39, 158 
Philonoiie, nN. Js. 96 * 
os Clemensella, n. sp., 97 
Phragmatobia rubricosa, 71 
Phylioxera vastatrix, 79, 185 
Phyciodes marcia, 159 
Phy locnistis vitigene.la, 169 
Pieris frigida, 56 . 
*- oleracea. 56 
s* rapae, 36, 37 57, 60, 184 
Platarctia parthenos, 70 
Platysamia co umbia, 119 
Placodes cinereo a, 16 
Platythiris, 171 
ss oculatana, 171 
Plu etla cruciferarum, 230, 232 
Plusia gamm +, 16 
Polyhynino a, g.. 246 
a luteostrigella, it. Sp., 247 
a6 sexstrigella, 1, Sp., 248 
Polyommatus americanus, 140 
Pseudorthodes, ni g., 253 
oY yecors, 253 


Nn, Sp. 115 


Psyche, 99, 120 
Pteromalus puparam, 37 
Pyrameis atalanta, 38 


Q 
Quarterly Journal of Science, 77 


Reed, E. sis , Article by, 227 
Riley, C .. Article by, 207 
LOYeYS, R. V., Article by, 81 


INDEX TO 


S 


Saperda moesta, Notes on Larva of, 61 
Sarcophaga sarraceniae, 209 
Sarracenia variolaris, Insects Associated with, 207 
Saturnia io, 227 
Saunders, W., Articles by, 1,2, 27, 32, 38, 46, 59, 
60, 61,77, 98, 101, 120,’ 138, 140, 141. 147, 
161, 199, 260 
Scottish Naturalist, 159 
Scudder, S. H., Articles by, 21 107, 126, 143 
Sesia diffinis, 171 
** ruticaudis, 170 
Signs to Denote Sex, 130 
Sinoe ambrosiaeella, 9 
Sphinx eremitoides, 199 
. 5-maculata, 83, 147 
Stratiomis ischiaca, 177 





Stretch, R. H., Article by, 119 
Summer shtse Ve. Articles by gD asilce 
Synonyimical Note. 180 

Syrphus Ribesii, 177 


5° agnon, 177 


Syritta proxima, 177 
cjg 


Tachina apicifera, 177 
)  finitima. 177 


oS aterans, 177 | 
Taeniocampa, 250 





Telea polyphemus, 86 
Telesilla cinereola, 16 
Testimonial to C. V. Riley, 7S 
Thyreus Abbotti, 146 

as nessus, 140 





rane y 
OP ¥ 
SCIENG pM 
Wire 


VOLUME VI. 





Theisod, 2. guy 75 

ef bifasciella, n, sp., 76 
Tinea obscurostrigella, n. sp., 232 
Tineina from Texas, 229 - 
Tischeria malifoliella, 150 
To Our Patrons, 60 
Trichius bidens, 140 


U 


Urania Druryi, 180 
ee rhipeus, 180 


Wi 


Vanessa antiopa, 146 
s¢  G-album, 60 


BH 
3 


Walker, Francis, Articles by, 31, 1 


Xanthoptera semicrocea, 208 
Xylophasia eariosa, 15 


Y 
Ypsolophus eupatoriella, 230 
L 


Zygaenidae and Bombyeidae, Mlustrations of, 77 


~ 





pf: \eiy ele 
ge tin Neos 


Dae 








| 7 
(iariT, 


a he 4. 





0